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EARNEST ENTREATIES 



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APPEALS TO THE UNCONYERTED: 



WITH 



PERSUASIONS TO RELIGIOUS DUTIES. 



BY 

MRS. LUZENE CHIPMAN. 



RALEIGH: 



1852. ^ 






In Exch nge 

Duke University 
JUL 1 2 1933 



0-- 

PREFACE. 

The authors object in publishing this little work, 
is to urge the blessed principles of Truth, on the 
minds of those who may read its pages ; for how can 
I conceal that gift or grace of God, and be faithful 
to Him, that requireth it at my hands, I cannot ex- 
pect it to receive the applause of the public, in gen- 
eral, on account of its plain and humble style ; there 
is no beauty nor elegance of language, to attract the 
ear; there is no new subject brought to light ; it is 
no other than the principles of true Godliness, as 
revealed by the Gospel of the Son of God. My de- 
sign is to call the attention of the children of men to 
the inward principle of life, which is spiritually re- 
vealed in the great w^ork of our salvation, which re- 
veals the hidden mystery of the appearance of Christ's 
grace or spirit, to every one that believeth. 

Dear reader, to have this little book brought be- 
fore the public eye, has been a matter of deep and 
humbling reflection, knowing my limited education 
and inability to write in a style that would meet the 
approbation of the community at large ; and of course 
must undergo the contempt of the critic's eye, and 



5V PRE FACET. 

the ridicule of the vain, therefore, I have for years kept 
it concealed ; I have been in doubt, and distress has 
covered my mind. I strove to excuse myself, because 
my services were called for by the public in another 
way, and the care of a family occupied all my time ;. 
but this I found to be of little avail, this concern still 
followed me, and caused me many sleepless nights ; I 
must encourage believers in their christian duties, and 
tell sinners their career must lead to death. 

I am aware that many dislike, and exclaim against, 
writings of this kind, and'* pronounce them the height 
of enthusiasm, or a dream of fancy ; because they call 
men to a reformation of life, to self-denial, watchful- 
ness and prayer, and to a holy resignation and de- 
pendence upon God, for the illuminating and sanctify- 
ing influence of the holy spirit. Be this as it may, 
I am resolved, with the assistance of the Quarterly 
Conference, to offer it to the public, and pray God for 
His- blessing,, that it may be the means of some good ; 
that His spirit may enlighten those who are in dark- 
ness, that they may be set free from the bonds of sin 
and iniquity, and from the power of the destroyer, 
and brought to the excellent knowledge of Christ their 
Redeemer. 

L. C, 



CHAPTER 1. 

REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 

According to the historical account of the creatiea 
of man, he was in possession of the image of God, up- 
right and holy ; for, after God had finished his wonder- 
ful works, and looked with delight from the seat of his 
holiness, upon the grandeur of tJie newly accomplished 
w^ork, not an error in all its structure, not a blemish 
had soiled the noble character of man, innocence flow- 
ed through every avenue of his soul, and the graces of 
his heart Vvcre like the dew drops of hermon ; all v/as 
peace within, the garden truly was a paradise ; tranquil- 
ity reigned throughout the heavenly realm ; none of 
those unhallowed traits had ever crossed his mind ; 
envy, hatred, covetousness and revenge, were stran- 
gers to his bosom. God pronounced them good, and 
very good ; but, alas ! this happy pair, though adorned 
with the heavenly image, fell from their [)rimeval state, 
and the glory that shone with such kister around their 
brows now disappeared, and a thrilling shock of fear 
now pierced their souls. "Adam, where art thou ?" was 
the voice that penetrated his ear, in the cool of the 
day ; " I was afraid and hid myself How changed 
was the aspect of things, all spiritual knowledge of God 
was lost, and the awful forebodings of the terror of the 
law, now rested upon them ; no sweet intercourse with 
their Creator could be obtained, but driven from4he 
garden, to seek protection they knew not where, and 
procure sustenance from the tillage of the earth by the 
sweat of their brow. But, Oh ! the condescension and 
mercy of God, a promise is still held out, that the seed 
of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, and in 



6 REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 

that seed all the families of the earth should be blessed. 
Here was the blessed cov^inaDt made to man, a recon- 
ciliation proposed, through the mediation of Christ, 
which was the son that was born, the child that was 
given, whose name should be called Wonderful, Coun- 
selor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the 
Prince of peace. But such is the depraved state of 
the human heart since the fall, unbelief has taken hold 
of his mind, and corrupted all of his affections ; he 
knows not how to come to God, he has not faith in the 
fullness of Christ, although the Prophets have declared 
him to be the Messiah, he that should redeem Israel. 
If the iVIessiah had come in the grandeur and pomp of 
an earthly king to increase man's earthly felicity, and 
erect a temporal kingdom ; with the greatest anxiety 
he would have complied with the terms. But the 
Apostle clearly discusses this subject, and proves that 
the end of all ceremonies and shadows is to direct 
them to Christ, which is the substance, and that 
Christ's kingdom is a spiritual kingdom ; and a fitness 
in man for this kingdom must be a spiritual work. 

God promised the Israelites a happy state in the land 
of Canaan, a release from trouble and sorrow, which 
should teach us to look for that heavenly Canaan, that 
spiritual rest, where our eternal happiness shall be com- 
plete. The Gospel promises are the foundation of the 
believers comfort, that elevates his affections and bars 
up the mind in all his applications, and prompts him 
to duty; his eye is fixed upon that treasure that God 
has in reserve ior the faithful. " Come unto me all ye 
that labor and are heavy laden, ai d I will give you 
rest" ; I will give you a crown of glory. What tid- 
ings of joy to a way-worn pilgrim, a seat at God's 
right hand ; how these promises should excite in us a fer- 
vent zeal for God's glory and loveliness in all our chris- 
tian duties, patience in tribulation, learning in every 
state therein to be content, honoring God in prosperi- 
ly or adversity, the stay and hope of all our future 



REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 7 

joy, before whom we must shortly appear, and be call- 
ed into a strict reckoning for our stewardship, whose 
sentence will be an everlasting and unchangeable one, 
whose ways are judgment and truth, and will give to 
every one according to their own merit. Then, may 
we be wise and know the day of our visitation, and 
choose God in Christ, for our portion. 

Oh ! may the carnal mind in us be subdued, and our 
affections weaned from earthly things. Set your affec- 
tions, (was the Divine command) on things above, where 
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves 
do not break through nor steal ; for, where your affec- 
tions are, there will your heart be also. Then if we love 
the world more than God, we are idolaters, and cannot 
enter in through the gate into the city ; our feet are 
strangers to the path that leads to life, and we wander 
as sheep that have strayed from the fold of Christ ; our 
delight is not in the law of the Lord, and therefore, 
although there is a promise left us, yet w^e shall come 
far short of entering into that rest, through negligence 
and unbelief. The christian here may realize, in some 
degree, from his own experience, the joy of the re- 
deemed, yet he is often made to cry out, like the 
Queen of the South, ' the half has not been told.' I ap- 
peal to you reader, if you have washed your robe in 
the fountain that was opened for sin ; can you not set 
your signet, that the love of God passeth all under- 
standing; and you are made to gaze in wonder and 
delight, by faith, on the happy state and endless en- 
joyment of the Saints of God, each receiving a full and 
complete reward for all his labors ; according to our 
capacity shall our measure be, when both soul and 
body shall be re-united after the resurrection ; and 
this mortal shall put on immortality, and those happy 
spirits shall continue to expand in the enjoyment of the 
love and presence of the Lord. Sister, is it you that 
are pondering over these lines, while the hand that 
wrote it lies folded beneath the shroud. Angels and 



8 REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 

all the redeemed are enjoying that reward, that God 
has in reserve for them that love him. And shall man, 
that noblest being of all God's creation, come short o{ 
his high vocation ; shall we seek to dwell with the 
glorified apostles that wait around His throne ; then 
may we choose God for our portion, and the giver of 
all our happiness. But man, since the fall, seeks not 
after God ; His fear is not before his eyes, his feet are 
in the broad road that leads to death ; that new and 
living way, that was offered through the veil, by the 
blood of Christ, is passed unperceived ; though the 
staff from Calvary's summit may wave the flag, en- 
graved by the purple tide upon its snow-white folds : 
•'Redemption for fallen man!'' And shall all this 
be unperceivd and unheeded ? will he still make rapid 
strides to eternal ruin, or will he not halt, will he not 
turn and cast a wistful look ? Is there not a desire that 
flashes, like electricity through the soul, to learn the 
motive of this inscription, its end and excellency. 

Here conviction is riveted upon the sinners heart; he 
sees the goodness of God, he has a true knowledge of 
the distance he is from him ; he sees that the road he 
is in, leads to hell. No wonder a penitent cries, "I am 
undone," when he discovers his danger, that he has lost 
his soul and his God. O ! sinner stop ! Reader, is it 
you that have turned your back, aud will not look 
upon this inscription ? will you not be convinced that 
Christ offers you pardon and an acquittal from sin ? 

They that are whole need not a physician, but they 
that are sick, you certainly are diseased ; yea, from 
the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, full of 
bruises ; you need a physician. We are not sufficient 
of ourselves to administer a remedy, but our sufficien- 
cy is in Christ : " Without me," said he, '' ye can do 
nothing." There is an inward principle or spiritual 
life that moves upon the soul of man ; a spiritual work 
is begun in tie heart : he is like the faithful servant, 
he improves the grace already given him, and seeks 



REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 9 

for greater ; his soul panteth after righteousness, as 
the hart after the water-brook. Thus we must strive, 
if we would advance in the divine Hfe, for "strait is 
the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and 
few^ there be that find it." Man will seek to enter in, 
and shall not be able ; they seek to enter in by their 
own works, not by, and through, the righteousness of 
Christ ; *' For," saith Christ, " I am the door, by me if 
any man enter in, he shall find pasture ; but he that 
entereth not by the door, but climbeth up some other 
way, is a thief and a robber." He desires to rob 
Christ of his honor, and ascribe the glory to himself ; 
thus, the kingdom of heaven sufTereth violence ; the 
promise is to them that endure to the end, that shall 
be saved. Our carnal nature, which is enmity against 
God, must be subdued ; our desires that are in oppo- 
sition to his will must be controlled, that we can say 
"not my will, but thine O God be done." 

Alas, how far have we departed from apostolic puri- 
ty. The Lord revealed his will to the Apostles, com* 
missioned them with tidings of mercy to the children 
of men. Has not the same light iallen on our path ? 
Has he not shown us our duty and we did it not ? 
Shall we from Pisgah's top have a sight of Canaan, 
and never tread the blissful soil where our dearest 
interests are at stake ? May the pearl be as precious 
to us as it was to the merchant in the gospel, who res- 
ted not till he had sold all he had and bought it. May 
the veil or gloom that covers our minds be removed, 
and we see our way to the portals of bliss, as Stephen 
saw the glory that awaited him, though expiring 
under the hands of his persecutors, that he should be 
released from toil and conflict and persecution, and 
swallowed up in eternal joy. What could he not en- 
dure for such revv^ard — bright scenes of glory burst- 
ing still in view, Jesus whispers it is enough, come 
happy soul thy reward is nigh — a victory triumphant, 
a glory won, he is now heir to the crown of life, which 
# 



10 REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 

the Lord, the righteous judge will give to his faithful- 
Fear not him that hath power to kill the body and 
inflict torture, though the most extreme, was the stim- 
ulating language of the dear Redeemer, to his tried 
and persecuted disciples, which nerved the soul, and 
kindled afresh that heavenly zeal, that swelled their 
throbbing hearts. May we not arrive at the same 
christian perfection? Have we not the same means 
of grace, to arrive at the highest degree of christian 
experience, enjoying a sweet and constant communion 
with the father of spirits : all the powers of the mind 
and heart, engaged in God's free, yet unmerited grace. 
Oh ! happy change, when we shall drop these tenements 
of clay, and both soul and body bask in the full enjoy- 
ments of His presence ; before whom angels bow, and 
cast their glittering crowns, when w^e shall join in the 
melodious and heavenly anthems of ascribing glory to 
God and the Lamb that has redeemed us. 

We are a people truly blessed with every means of 
grace, every gospel promise given for our encourage- 
ment, and shall we bring an evil report of the goodly 
land ? Are we not through God's grace, freely able to 
go up and possess it ? The way is marked out by 
the blood of Christ, which makes it a high and a holy 
way, a way for the redeemed to walk in. They that 
are redeemed from sin, and have the sword of the spir- 
it girt close about them, they can travel on secure and 
without fear, for nothing unclean shall enter there, or 
none can harm you through all your christian jour- 
ney's end, although you are persecuted, yet the w^ay is 
pleasant, " For my yoke is easy and my burthen light." 
Here is comfort for the tried soul, when he looks by 
faith, to the hills from whence our help comes. O! 
then brothers and sisters, seek that wisdom that is from 
above, "for whether there be prophecies they shall fail, 
whether there be tongues they shall cease, whether 
knowledge it shall vanish away" ; for we shall shortly 
have done with all things temporal, done w.th the 



REFLECTiaNS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 11 

Church Militant and all its ordinances, though our 
souls have oftentimes been refreshed and we strength- 
ened in remembrance of Christ's love for us, and that 
we may drink anew with him in his heavenly king- 
dom. Ordinances then shall cease, and the knowledge 
of things here below, shall vanish away, for the har- 
vest is gathered and the laborers called home ; but 
where, Oh ! where, shall the ungodly and the sinner 
appear ? Their hope forever gone, doomed to reckless 
despair, which is justly merited, and wd:iich will be the 
position of all the neglecters of Christ's grace, for none 
that is unholy, or defiletb, or makelh a lie, shall inherit 
the kingdom. Christians may have to weep and la- 
ment, while the world rejoice, but their sorrow shall be 
turned into joy, and it is a joy that the w^orld cannot 
give, neither take away; a glory awaits them that the 
sinner cannot indure, because his desires are so cor- 
rupt, and so unholy, he hatli no relish for heavenly 
joys, he hath no peace in the presence of God's children, 
it is a place he cannot endure, for he dislikes to hear 
tell of those joys that eye bath not seen nor ear heard ; 
that the human heart hath never conceived, that 
God hath laid up or prepared for them that love him ; 
they are hid from the eye of the ungodly : his heart 
delights not in understanding them ; there must be a 
change, a fitness for those sublime enjoyments. It 
matters not how delicious and rich the food is that is 
spread before us, if we have no relish nor appetite for 
it, the stomach loathes the sight, so the sinner in like 
manner, rejects heavenly instruction, because he has 
no relish for it; but if the powers of the stomach are 
properly arranged, the food is delicious, and the sys- 
tem nourished and strengthened ; so if the heart is made 
susceptible of divine instruction, how delightful the lec- 
tures, how pleasant a repast for the soul, how joyous to 
talk of that glory that awaits the people of God ; yet 
our capacities are so limited, our knowledge of things 
so dark, our expressions so simple and plain, we often 



12 REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 

feel discouraged. But why, Oh ! why, sister should wo 
pine ; if it did not appear even to the holy men, the 
beloved disciple what we should be, but that when 
Christ should appear, we should be like him; enough, 
Oh ! my soul enough to be like Christ, accepted and 
beloved of God ; honored and welcomed by angels. 

The great Creator can, at one view behold the vast 
universe, and the millions of human beings are present 
before him His eye hath pitied, and tlie banner of 
his covenant hath spread over all : " Come unto me all 
ye ends of tlie earth and be ye saved.'' Tell a wan- 
derer from God, whose delight is in sin, what belongs 
to his peace ; tell him the comforts of religion, the joy 
and peace of mind that the child of God has, he be- 
lieves it not, he cannot understand it, it is hid from his 
eyes, for the natural eye cannot discern the things of 
the spirit ; neither is grace enjoyed only by grace ; but 
to the christian that lives near to God, it is encourage- 
ment, for he has a knowledge of divine things, and by 
grace he can speak of the blessedness of the saints 
beyond this veil of tears; his mind dwells on the Sa- 
vior's promises, which brings him near to God ; he 
cries out, "Oh, the joys held out by the Redeemer to 
every believer! "Father I will that those w4iom thou 
hast given me, be with me w^here I am that they may 
behold my glory which thou hast given me." Is not 
this enough to fill the soul with life and joy ? They 
may feast thereon, as the hidden m.anna, and to them 
Christ will give the fruit of the tree of life, and make 
them pillars in the temple of God, and they shall go no 
more out. 

Brethren be not dismayed, though the w^orld persecute 
you and cast out your name as evil, God v^^ill place on 
you a new name, and the name of our God, \^ hich seal 
will make you an heir to the city of God, which is the 
New Jerusalem, where you will have a seat with him at 
the table of the Lamb, and commune Vv'ith those that 
have come up through great tribulation, and have 



REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 13 

washed their robes and made them white in the blood of 
the Lamb, who are before the throne of God, and serve 
him day and ni«iht in the temple, and the Lamb which is 
in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead 
them unto living fountains of water, and God will wipe 
away all tears Irom their eyes. Did not God tell Israel 
that he would be their God, and they should be his peo- 
ple ; that he would even dwell with them in the taber- 
nacles of men ; and his servants should serve them, and 
that they should see his face, and his name should be in 
their foreheads. These are scriptural sayings, and found- 
ed on truth, for every promise shall be yea, and amen; 
and will in due time be fulfilled, for the Lord will come 
to gather his elect, and to reward his faithful. Rejoice 
then ye faithful, for the lines have fallen to us in pleasant 
places ; yea, we have a goodly heritage, if God is for 
us, who shall be against us; if hb is at our right hand 
we shall not be moved. Theretore, my heart is glad, 
for thou wilt teach us the way of life, and lead us into 
all truth; for in his presence is fullness of joy and at 
his right hand are pleasures forever-more. 

How^ inexpressible and unbounded has God's love 
been towards us, that we, even you and I may 
have fellowship with him, even dwell in him and he in 
us. May we indulge in such a thought? the blessed bi- 
ble tells us w^e may and forbids us not. It would have 
been the height of presumption in us, to have ap- 
proached God, if Christ had not suffered for our offen- 
ces, and received the stripes wherewith w^e are healed. 
But he hath spoken, and shall he not make it good, all 
that will come to him through Christ shall be saved. 
Be of good cheer brethren, the prophet tells us, that it 
is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of God, than 
to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Moses said, he 
had rather suffer afxlictions with the people of God^ 
than enjoy the honors and wealth of Egypt. He had an 
eye to the recompense of reward, not the reward of man, 
but of God, made an heir of his kingdom, and the 
spouse of his Son, v/ho is one w^ith the Father. 



14 REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 

This body shall return to dust, from whence it came; 
it shall be quickened and changed, for flesh and blood 
cannot inherit the kingdom of God ; it must be a spir- 
itual body — tlvis mortal shall put on immortality — God 
will give a body as pleaseth Him. Christ is the first 
fruits of them that sleep, even so in like manner shall 
we be raised from the tomb, and soul and body re-unite. 
Herein is Christ glorified in the salvation of both soul 
and body ; as both soul and body suffered for sin, so 
shall both partake of the everlasting benefits of that 
suffering. Christ by his death purchased redemption 
for soul and body, otherwise he could not have been 
a full and complete Saviour; the anthems of praise 
could not have reverberated through that blissful realm, 
* Thou art worthy Oh, Lord, to receive glory and hon- 
or and power, for thou hast redeemed us, both soul and 
body to God, by thy most precious blood, out of every 
kindred, nation, tongue and people.' And while the 
anthems of praise dwell on the tongues of the redeemed, 
^the soul will expand and receive new joys and still 
greater delights, w^hile they continue to praise Him 
day and night, saying : '' Holy, Holy Lord God Al- 
mighty, who was, and is, and is to come," w^hat a 
wonderful and noble creature is man ; reffect on his 
sensative powers, his understanding how great ; it can 
measure the earth and define its revolutions; acquaint 
itself with the sun, moon and stars, and have a fair 
knowledge of their eclipses. But is this all ? Nay, 
verily, there is a summit still greater for man to arrive 
at; he can know the great, *'I am,'' the mighty God 
that rules universal nature, that calms the ran:in^ bil- 
lows; he can know Him in the forgiveness of all his 
sins ; experience His justiiying and saving power liere 
in this present life, and in the life to come dwell w^ith 
Him in the realms of unceasing delight. Oh ! the depth 
of the riches, both of the wisdom and goodness of God ; 
how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past 
finding out. He hath created man and endowed him 



REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 15 

with understanding, and the plan of his better interest 
spread before him, that he might even through the veil 
behold the Son of Righteousness, and be made to say 
with Peter, -'It is good to be here,' it is pleasant tp wait 
upon the Lord ; Oh ! that I might ever dwell in his 
presence. The Lord hath promised his people sup- 
porting grace in the day of trial and suffering, and 
t^iough they walk through the fiery furnace, he will be 
with them. Believe then in God. Christ saith believe 
also in me, for here is knowledge of his supporting 
grace — the knowledge of things visible must cease, 
that a more glorious and perfect knowledge may suc- 
ceed ;" for we know now only in part, but when that 
which is perfect is come, then that which is in part 
shall be done away, for nov^ w^e see through a glass 
darkly, but then face to face. Our knowledge shall be 
perfect, and w^e shall know even as we are known ; for 
it is life eternal to know God, and Jesus Christ w'hom 
he hath sent. Every faculty of the soul will be ani- 
mated in this blessed knowledge, and gaze with wonder 
and astonishment upon the son of God. 

Oh ! brother, sister, call to mind the past, and reflect 
what thou hast been ; yea, from the mount of faith, 
look into the depth of woe thou hast escaped ; compare 
the past with present favors, and it will raise in the 
soul new transports of delight, and wake up the most 
anxious enquiry : did the happiness I enjoy cost the 
life's blood of the dear Redeemer. Oh ! astonishing 
favor, amazing love and condescension, that 1 a sinner 
without merit, miserable, blind and naked, should by 
believing, attain unto. Is this a phantom ? is it a dream 
that is forgotten at opening day ? NO ! It is a glorious 
truth, 'founded upon Scripture. Well may it be termed 
"good news — tidings of peace and great joy to all na- 
tions." Weary soul be refreshed, thy help is near ; 
thy sufferings will soon be over, thy watchings and 
fasting and labors will be lost in glory ; for God is love, 
and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God 



16 REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 

in him. Although we are made often to mourn over 
our daily defects and sliort comings, and cry out, Oh ! 
that I could love him more — his goodness is enough to 
melt us down in the depths of humility ; he loved us 
while we were enemies and sinners against him. What 
a touching scene was it to see Joseph weeping over his 
brethren, until his lamentation was heard throughout 
the King's dominion ; but how much more affecting to 
see the immaculate Lord in condescending mercy weep 
over Jerusalem when near its ruin. Oh, sinner his 
love reaches to the ends of the earth, and encircles the 
whole race of man. Our regard one for another is 
changeable, but his love is not so, for with him there 
is no variableness nor shadow of turning. Then let 
not the things of this world gain our affections, but 
O may we be firm, (and even challenge tribulation, 
persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword,) that 
nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Yes, 
truly the believer may be thus established fully in his 
mind, ' that neither life nor death, nor angels nor prin- 
cipalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to 
come, shall be able to separate them from the love of 
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Did not the 
Apostle arrive at this happy state, and remain firm 
through many stripes? That love attracted his atten- 
tions and charmed the soul, and made him cry out, 
"no w^onder angels desired to look into the depth of 
the mistery, for it surpasseth all knowledge." Oh, the 
breadth and length and depth and height of that love — it 
knows no bound. 

" It's strains the whole creation reach, 
So plentious is the store ; 
Enough for all, enough for each, 
Enough for evermore." 

" The gift of God is the white stone which no man 
knoweth save he that recieveth it/' Is not this the 



REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 17 

Comforter that leads unto all truth, and brings the be- 
liever to the fountain of living waters, that they nriay 
thirst no more ; that it may be a well of Hvini^ water, 
springing up in them to eternal life, that they may re- 
ceive the same glory that the Father gave the Son, 
and sit with him on his throne, even as he is set down 
with his father on his throne. 

Is it not recorded in holy writ, that " weeping may 
endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning/' 
O! happy morning, when the Son ot Righteousness 
arises with healing in his wings., and the humble, droop- 
ing s;>ul filled with joy — and a voice from heaven say- 
ing, " thy sins are all forgiven, arise and go in peace ;" 
herein the Lord is glorified in his saints, and adtnir- 
ed in all them that believe. With what delight does 
He see a prodigal returning, even afar off, for hereim 
he sees the travail of his soul, and is satisfied ; with 
what aflection does he run and meet him, and with 
what compassion does he embrace him, and put the 
best robe on him, even the robe of his own righteous- 
ness, and kills the fatted calf, that they may eat and be 
merry. 



CHAPTER II. 

EEMEMBEIt THY CREATOR IN THE DAYS OV THY YOUTH. 

a 

Beloved brothers and sisters, could 1 address you 
on this all-important subject, in a way that would at* 
tract you attention, I would be amply rewarded lor all 
my labors. Could one speak to you from the dead» 
and tell you the happy state of the blessed, would you 
believe ? The language of heaven is, " you have 
Moses and the prophets, hear them." Young people 
my niessage is of vital importance, w^ill you receive it, 
or will you reject it ? It may be my dying address to 
you ; O! give your heart to God in early youth, and 
follow the dear Redeemer, and walk in wisdoms ways; 
• Ho'vV fleeting do the moments pass ; they that are 
gone, are gone for ever ; and of how little importance 
are the things of this transient world, to you who have 
an eternal world to gain or lose ; your happiness, your 
eternal all. O ! let a sister's appeal reach your heart 5 
I feel duty binds me to press this matter close to your 
heart; it is your eternal welf^ire that is so dear. How 
many years have you already wasted, as the prodigal, 
in riotous living, and have had no serious thoughts 
on this important subject ; God has long waited for 
your return, and chums your obedience to His law ; 
Christ has shed his blood for you : you may reject this 
call of mercv, and disbelive the truths of the Bible; 
you may laugh me to scorn, and call mean enthusiast; 
but death and eternity w^ill soon rush upon your 
thoughtless vision ; when too late, you will see your 
error when you have lost your soul, your Saviour and 
God. Truth! how forcibly the living know thai they 
must die ; yet how few lay this matter to heart ; ihosej 



EXHORTATION TO YOUTH. 19 

that have come up through grent tribulation, know the 
value of religion ; every saint in glory knows its. 
worth, Have not the impenitent gnashed their teeth 
in bitter anguish of soul, while reflecting on their loss ; 
there is no repentence beyond the grave ; O ! then, 
trifle not with your soul it is your peace; I much 
desire. I am convinced, without religion you can- 
not be happy here, nor happy, when time to you 
must be no more. How often liave you been addressed 
by the minister from the sacred desk, on this all-import- 
ant matter, and urged to prepare for death and judge- 
ment ; and you hear, as though you heard it not, and 
the most serious and impressive calls, as if they were 
mere formal things ; but, I beg you to read this ; as for 
you, it is a solemn message from God through this 
organ of clay. On a dying bed, if you refuse my tes- 
timony, the reflection of such slighted opportunities, 
will be as the gnawing of the worm that never dieth. 
O! think now, reflect while you have the opportuni- 
ty, while in health and vigor, you shortly will be done 
with time forever, and your body returns to dust, and 
probably your name forgotten on earth ; yet that im- 
mortal principle or spirit, must live through the annals 
of vast eternity, in a state of happiness or misery ; how 
happy will you be if you have followed the dear Re- 
deemer ; but if you have rejected all his mercies, ever- 
lasting punishment must be your portion ; and your 
sensative powers will be more acute, and every oppor- 
tunity brought to your remembrance ; calls of mercy 
are not forgotten then, there they may appear too, as 
trifles now ; those things that you prize so high, that 
occupy all your time, will be less than vanity, and you 
would give all, and ten thousand time as much more, for 
the offers of salvation, that you have refused. Oh! 
then hear; I beseech you to hear, for now is the day of 
salvation. O ! may the holy spirit incline your heart to 
receive the word of life We are here in a world of 
enemies that are combined to obstruct our path, and 



20 EXHORTATION TO YOUTH. 

prevent our reaching the mansions of bliss. Let us 
not go forward thoughtless of the prize that awaits us 
on our entrance on that unseen world ; it is only a 
momentary stay here, and we pass through a short t^pan 
of time, as strangeis and pilgrims on earth, into an 
eternal world, to receive our just reward (if for sin,) 
into an endless night of the deepest gloom and sorrow, 
where the worm dielh not, and the fire is not quenched ; 
or to joys unspeakable and full of glory. If you were 
placed upon a bark, upon the broad bosom of the 
ocean, helpless and wretched, and expecting every mo- 
ment to be engulphed by its proud waves, and I in reach 
to save you and snatch you from destruction's whirlpool, 
and should pass on careless and unconcerned whetht^r 
you were saved or lost, would you not cry out, O ! cru- 
el wretch, that will see me sink and perish here ! Your 
case is ten-fold w^orse : you are exposed to the wrath 
ot an offended God, as you sail over the ocean of time, 
and your bark is now wrecked, and one more dashing 
wave may sink you not only to death temporal, but to 
an eternal death, where the smoke of your torment 
will ascend forever and ever. Oh ! then, rliink me not 
over anxious for your peace and happiness, but read 
this little volume, this message of love, I beseech you 
w^ith prayer, and may that God who has access to ev- 
ery heart convince you by his spirit to treasure up its 
contents, could you feel the need of a Saviour, or be 
convinced of the worth of your soul, you would not 
censure me for being over anxious for your happiness 
in that state of endless bliss. Nay, you would say I 
was not earnest enough, wdien speaking to you on a 
subject of such vital consequence. 

Reader, it may be that you may laugh at my anxiety^ 
and all my prayers and entreaties may be in vain. — 
And shall it be so ? God forbid ! O ! will you slight 
your Saviour, and make your own destruction sure ? 
Will you be your own worst enemy ; your murderer, 
more cruel than satan himself could possibly be, for 



EXHORTATION TO YOUTH. 21 

he will only tempt you to sin, b\it you will rush head- 
long through the strongest opposition into eternal woe, 
lhrou(j(h the most appalh'ng entreaties of your friend, 
and the blood of the blessed Jesus. But may I not 
hope better things? O! look without delay unto God 
and be saved, for he is now waiting to l)e gracious. 
May the sorrows of the Saviour, his sufferings and 
death for sinners, melt your hard heart and lead you 
to repentance. 

Christ has through his suffering consecrated for us 
a new and living way, even through the veil, which is 
to say, his flesh by which we who are aliens, may with 
boldness draw near witli full assurance of faith, for it 
was for our sakes he came into the world, suffered, 
died, arose, an i ascended to heaven, and in his ab- 
sence he has promised to send the comforter that will 
lead us into all truth until he shall come to gather up 
his jewels, to receive his people to himself, that 
where he is they may be also. Shall we beloved, 
who were defiled with sin, be received into his glory ? 

The word of God declares that the imagination of 
man's heart is evil f om his vouth ; his thoughts are 
evil and that he is continually drinking in sin as the 
ox drinketh in water. We see through the gospel glass 
the provision that is m?-de for his recovery ; the reme- 
dy is just at hand, the physician of souls stands to ap- 
ply the balm that is for the healing of the nations: 
come and apply, and God will bestow the blessed in- 
fluence of his grace. Oh ! Saviour, thou hast received 
gifts for men : bestow them on those that read this 
volume, and by it awaken some youthful sinner to fall 
at thy feet. O! grant this petition if it please Thee; 
that the object of this volume by the blessed influ- 
ence of thy spirit, may be carried out ; that many who 
read may see the way to the Saviour, and have their 
names written in the book of life. 

Youth is a very acceptable time to serve the Lord. 
Reader you may be young in years, yet gone far from 



22 EXHORTATION TO YOUTH. 

God by wicked works, and he rnny cut you down as a 
cuniberer ot" the ground. Reflect, if this sentence were 
executed, where must your portion be ? Where hope 
and mercy can never reach you. O! may you be sen- 
sible of your sins, and bewail your foil} ; that you 
may live that life, which on a dying bed will afford 
peace ; God hath spared you in mercy, and perhap*^ 
for a great purpose ; treat not His goodness with con- 
tempt, but may your life henceforth be devoted to 
Him, for he alone can teach you the way of sal- 
vation. 

Be in earnest, I beseech you, with yourselves, for, 
though youth and vigor may sparkle in your eye, 
your days may be numbered, your time on earth may 
be short, your eyes may be closed in death, and your 
soul called to meet that slighted and insulted God. 
Oh! be wise ; without a change of heart you cannot 
see God in peace. Then come to Him, that He may 
wash away your sins in his attoning blood ; may your 
youthful hearts be inclined to wisdom's way, and ap- 
proach the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of 
the world. 

Oh ! Saviour, let the enlightening influence of Thy 
spirit accomplish what is failed to be written, for with- 
out Thee, all our efforts are vain : Thou al ne can 
have access to the hearts of the children of men. 



CHAPTER III. 

IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD ? IS THERE NO PHYSIi^IATf 
THERE ? WHY THEN IS NOT THE HURT OF THH 
DALTGHTER OF MY PEOPLE RECOVERED ? Jeremiah 

viii.-22. 

That we»are morally diseased, is almost universally 
acknowledged. Did I say almost ? It is universally 
acknowledged that we are defiled with sin, and no sound- 
ness in us ; from the crown of the head to the sole of the 
foot, full of wounds, bruises and putrifying sores. It has 
been very wisely observed, that to have a knowledge 
of our situation, or our disease, is half the cure. May 
we not, with propriety, apply this spiritually : suppose 
our friend or brother seriously ill of a fatal disease, 
and so deluded as to think it a slio^ht attack, and con- 
sequently reluse the means that would restore health, 
how soon would death, the coffin, and the grave, 
change the state of them, when too late ; but delusions 
of this kind are very rare. But alas! alas! how aw- 
ful are the delusions that are common am(in2:st us : 
how mischevious, and dangerous ; how dreadfully fa- 
tal are the diseases of the soul. I he distempers ot the 
mind, might well be compared to wounds, bruises, 
&c. 

In Mitthew, ix.-12, Christ saith, "They that are 
whole, nee-l not a physician, but they that are sick." 
The diseases of the soul are numerous, yet they may 
all be inclu led under one general head ; which is un- 
belief. Atheism, deism, and every ^irade of infidelity or 
idolatry, are deadly diseases ; pride, envy, hatred and 
malic?, are dangerous diseases ; and, if a remeily is 
not speedily resorted to, will inevitably prove destruc- 



24 IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 

live. Reader, do ^^ou labor under the hateful influence 
of any of these ? You may imagine yourselves moral 
and honest, and that your sins are small, that, they are 
youthful sports and pastimes ; your follies shew forth 
the deep corruptions of that vile heart, which is totally 
hid from your view. 

My friend, whoever you are, you are in da! ger of 
dying eternally, of that mortal plague, and yet you 
flatter yourself, as a 1 your sins are small, all is well. 
J tell you, you are exposed to the wrath of a juslly of- 
fended God. And are you sitting at ease, fglding your 
arms, saying, " peace, peace,'' and destruction at the 
door ? 

Awful as these diseases may appear, yet, thank God 
there is a remedy. Beloved travelers to eternity, be 
it far from me to represent your state by nature, worse 
than God has described it in His blessed word. If I 
even had a desire so to do, I have not ihe talent nor 
the power. I ask you, unconverted friend, have you 
not mingled with the opinions of a poor vain world, 
although you have not indulged in the greatest of 
sins, neglected your bible and your God ; these are 
small sins, you suppose, yet you have so many good 
dispositions, so many good works, to counteibalanco 
these, that you can hope for heaven and happiness. 

Reader, is this your conclusion ? Is this the view 
you have of yourself? If so, you are a deluded soul. 
Let the truth of God's word decide, and what is the 
answer? Does it not tell you, you are coi-rupt and 
px)liuted by sin, and at variance with your God ; that 
all the power of your soul is disoidered, and you ex- 
posed to everlasting ruin, your righteousness worse 
than filthy rags. Although you are entirely depraved 
and undone, yet there is still a remedy, believe on the 
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ; you must 
receive a change of heart, or new birth, or you cannot 
possibly see the kfngdom of God. 

You may exclaim, '' away with such doctrine/' and 



IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 25 

cast it from you, with indignation. Yet pause a mo- 
ment, and hear nne ; I appeal to scripture, to God's 
revealed word, " nnarvel not that I say unto thee, 
thou must be born again," this is not the delusion of 
worldly fanaticism, but the word of eternal truth. 
Listen to the alarming thrill of the funeral bell, that 
calls you to behold the shroud, the coffi i, and the nar- 
row confines of the cold damp grave. Yuu may, upon 
the same principle, exclaim, '' away with such terrify- 
ing reflections." But, you may refuse to reflect, you 
may refuse- to meditate on those things that belong to 
your peace, but your refusal will not lessen the awful 
realities that you will, ere long, experience, unless 
awakened -to a timely preparation for that change, that 
awaits you. li' you ret\tse to harken to the calls of 
mercy through a feeble sister, that feels the deepest in- 
terest for your everlasting peace, you may seal your 
own destruction. 

The scriptures inform us, that we a' e all born in 
sin and possess a corrupt and sinful nature. Not 
withstanding, God formed man in His own image, in- 
nocent and holy, but by di^obedience he fell from that 
state of innocence, and consequenth% his posterity is 
alike corrupt and fallen ; thus man came into the 
world corrupt and sinful. Such is the exceeding sin- 
fulness of human nature, that the word of God de- 
clares that we are shapen in iniquity, and conceived in 
sin. Man is a transgressor from his birth, and walks 
in his own ways. Here is a proof of human depravi- 
ty, a disposition to commU sin ; we .«ee from infancj^ 
foolishness is bound up in the heart of the child, and 
the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth ; 
only evil and that continually : tiie inspection of the 
Omnipotent eye declares the iniquity of man, for God 
looked down from heaven upoti the children of men to 
see ff there were any that did understand; and, behold, 
there w^ere none good, no not one. Then we say, sin is 
a death-like poison that spreads through the whole 



26 IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 

man ; the head is sick, and the heart faint; the heart 
is now defiled, deceitful above all things and desperate- 
ly wicked. 

The apostle was convinced of the corruption of 
human nature, when he exclaimed, "I know in me 
dwelleth no good thing, that is in my flesh/' How 
awful is the condition of the unregeneraie, who flatter 
themselves, that tliere is something in them meritori- 
ous, that well recommends them to God ; and, at the 
same time, their best actions, flow from corrupt mo- 
tives, and are, in the sight of God, sinful in the ex- 
treme. Man IS so blinded by the god of this world, 
that he cannot see those things that belong to his 
peace. 

Our Lord declares, that the design of his gospel, is 
to open the eyes of the blind. Here is a glorious re- 
medy, to open men's eyes, that they may see the ex- 
ceeding sinfulness of sin, and to turn them from dark- 
ness to light, and from the power of satan to God ; 
yea, he assures us, that he came to preach recovery 
of sight to the blind ; so great is this blindness, that 
the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit 
of God, for they are foolishness unto him ; even the 
preaching of the cross itself, is, to theui that | ersist, 
foolishness. Thai, *' men love darkness, rather than 
Jighh because their deeds are evil." God has declared 
that sin is the source of misery, death and hell : yet, 
men roll it under their tono;ue, as a sweet morsel, dis- 
regarding the lorious plan of salvation, which so much 
magnifies the love, wisdom, and goodness of God, that 
astonished the angels of heaven, to see how God could 
hd just, and spare sinlul and guilty man. 

O! how can man trample under- toot, the blood of 
the covenant as an unholy thing. Men do not stop 
here, they are in the snair of the devil, <-nd led captive 
by him at his will ; they are children oi' the wicked 
one. John declares that all men are children of God, 



IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAI>. 27 

or of the devil, and all that are not righteous, are not 
of God. 

How moving are the words of the dear Redeemer, 
to every awakened soul, " 1 am come, that you may 
have life, and that you may have it more abundantly/' 
And is this inviting language rejected? and that, by 
men doomed to eternal pain ! Truly, the decree hath 
gone forth, "except you repent, ye shall all likewise 
perish," Must the son of God be grieved, and com- 
plain, "they will not come unto me that they may 
have life ?' 

My brethren, will you sacrifice your eternal peace, 
and love pleasure more than God ? Are vou alienated 
from God by wicked works — haters of him that has so 
ioved you — strangers and foreigners to the way ? for 
I am the way saith Christ. If so you are without God 
in the world, neither do you seek after him ; the fear 
of him is not before y< ur eyes; you say to that blessed 
spirit, depart frotu us, we desire not the knowledge of 
thy ways. Oh ! will you chose ^in and vanity in 
preference to the favor of God ? Will you say in your 
pride and wickedness, who is the Almighty that we 
should serve him, and what profit shall we have if w^e 
pray unto him ? Reflect vain man, thy time is short ; 
God will not be mocked, neither will his patience al- 
ways be trampled upon — -"for my spirit shall not always 
strive with man." 

What an awful picture is here of our depraved, 
dependant, and fallen state. The mind is earthly and 
sensual. Look at the vain and the profligate, and the 
lovers of the world; depravity is not confined to the 
wicked and most abandoned, but it may i e well applied to 
every human being, no niatter how moral or correct 
his outward appearance nmy be, whose mind still 
cleaves to earth and earihly treasure. The miser as 
well as the spendthrift, and the youth whose eye is 
placed on gayety and fashion, display the carnal mind. 
The mechanic, the physician, and the self-righteous^ 



28 IS THEUK NO BALM IN GILEAD. 

are all under its baleful influence, and are at enmity 
against God. 

What disease can be worse than enmity? Can 
there be a remedy? Well might the great Jehovah 
call heaven and earch to witness the dreadful crimes of 
the children of men. "I have nourished and bro-jsjht 
up children, and they have rebelled against me." The 
Saviour might well represent man as a wandering, 
wicked prodigal, and the most ungrateful to a parent 
so affectionate. We are so destitute of the true prin- 
ciples of love and gratitude, that we had rather fill 
ourselves upon husks, and that in an enemies hand, 
than enjoy the smiles and comforts of a faiher's house. 
Yea, we have all sinned and committed iniquity, by 
departing from the gospel precepts. Oh! the depth of 
our fall, and the horrid nature of our sins. No wonder 
it calls for the sacrifice of the son of Qod to remedy our 
disease ; he had no sacrifice to make for himself, but 
for us ; he needed none, for he was pure, holy, harmless, 
and undefiled ; yet he offered himself once for all, when 
he expired upon tlie cross. This sacrifice differed 
much from the Jewish sacrifices: it was not an annual 
sacrifice, but once offered for all ; neither w-^s it a sac- 
rifice of calves or goats, but freely of himself, not for 
a few or a part, but for all the human family ; yea, he 
tasted death for every man. He is the Balm for all 
our diseases. 

The Jewish high Priests had need of repeated offer- 
ings and sacrifices; and why? Because they were fallible 
men. But Christ, our high Priest, is without l)lemish : 
etC'Tjally perfect. The Leviiical priesthood was ut- 
terly insufficient, for it was only appointed for a cer- 
tain time, and was only a political pardon. In conse- 
quence of the sacrifice on the day of atonement, tho 
apostle tells us he is our high Priest or mediator of a 
new covenant; for through the sacrifice of himself, 
thus offered to God, believers may draw nigh to God, 
and receive the blessings of the covenant, which is 
Gods righteousness to cover all our sins that are past» 



IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 29 

and gives us grace to live up to the requirings of the 
Gospel, giving us the privilege to love God with all 
our hearts. 

The apostle tells us the things that he has told us, 
(this is the sum.) that we have a high Priest who is 
set on the right hand of the throne ot" the Majesty in 
the heavens ; a more elevated seat than any other 
Priest ever occupied. The sacj-ifice which he has 
offered for the sins of the world w^ns amply sufficient 
and acceprable with God, and he has all powers ia 
heaven and in earth, and is able to save to the utter- 
most, all that come to God through him. What a 
display of the wisdom and goodness of God, in teaching 
us our entire helplessness, and the depravity of our 
natures — that nothing short of an Almighty arm is able 
to save us from such deep depravity, for the word of 
God declares that death has passed upon all men, be- 
cause alt have sinned. Then all are included under 
sin ; we have all departed from the path of duty, and 
have walked in our own way ; we are all diseased, all 
tread in forbidden paths — down the ro id to death. 
None incline their feet to the ways of God. Well 
might the solemn denunciation go forth : *• the whole 
world lieth in wickedness,'' exposed as a prey to a 
ferocious enemy ; the whole human family is guilty 
before God. Who dare claim heaven on his own merit, 
or say I have made myself righteous or cleansed my 
own heart ; lor if one died for all, then we were all 
dead. 

Will not every christian set his seal to the truth of this, 
from his own experience — -that all in a state of nature 
are guilty before God. The ancient worthies confess, 
in deep humility, the depravity of their natures ; they 
cry out and say : "I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin 
did my mother conceive me.'' Daniel, that worthy 
prophet, that could unfold the unknown misteries of 
God, and tell what things were to transpire, deeply 
feels his depravity, and complains of his rebellion 



20 IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 

against his God. How did Job lament and abhor 
himself, as a man truly pious, tliat had the approbation 
of" God as a just man, more righteous than any man of 
the enst. Oh ! hear hin) lament and say, " I repent in 
dust and ashes/' Isninh says, " wo is me, for I am a man 
of unclean lips." Yea, does not every true christi^an 
mourn over his daily defects, and say with Paul, *' I 
know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good 
thino; — all are bv nature children of the wicked one." 
Christian brethren, how often should we meditate upon 
these solemn truths, and deplore the corruptions of our 
own hearts ? Has not long experience taught us the 
workings of our own minds ; that there are two opposite 
principles in us warring with each other ; th .t we cannot 
do the things at all times that we should? Do we not 
deplore our un worthiness and w^ant of love to God — our 
poor selfish low desires. Is it any wonder that the eyes 
of the Vv'orld gaze at the professors of religion, when 
they see the irregularities of their deportment, having 
a name to live, and yet dead to the true principles of 
christian perfection — 'let him that thinks hestandeth, 
take heed least he fall." 

This is truly a melancholy and heart-searching sub- 
ject, and paintjul to dwell on ; but my design is to bring 
us to reflect upon our dangerous condition, that we 
may look to God lor everlasting grace. 

Unconverted youth, God's etern^d truth tells us that 
he that believeth not, is condemned already, for judg- 
ment has come upon all men to condemnation, for all 
are in a state of sin and death, for the wjiges of sin is 
death — not only death temporal, but death eternal, 
which is termed the second death, which is a separa- 
tion from God and his glory, and sentenced to irre- 
trievable wo: *' where the worm dieth not, and the 
fire is not quencnea.'' 

The day of final retribution, is fast approaching ; 
destruction and misery await the ungodly, for God 
hates the workers of iniquity ; they that will not re- 



IS THFRE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 31 

ceive the 2:veat physician of souls, shall receive the 
works ')t* their own hands. 

O! hear tlie solemn declarntion, -'there is no peace 
to the vvirked, saith God. Divine revelation declareth 
"that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven 
affainst all unrio-hteousness/' that everv transsressor 
and all the disobedient shall receive a just recompence 
of rew rd ; for indignation and wrath, tribulation and 
anguish, to every soul of man that doeth evil. O! 
how careful, how watchful should we be, how guard- 
ed ; for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet 
offend in one single point, is guilty of all, condemned 
by a single transgression, yea, a sinful w'ord, exposes 
the soul to everlasting punishment. 

Read the declarations of the apostles, how they 
warn us by the authority of heaven, that our state is 
dangerous, and not only dangerous but awful ; they 
are deeply concerned for our eternal peace, for they 
solemnly declare to us that ihe wicked shall be turned 
into hell, and all the nations that forget God, and on 
them God will pour out his wrath, for he is a consult- 
ing fire, that the Lord shall be revealed from heaven, 
with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking ven- 
geance on them that know not God, and obey not 
the gospel ot our Lord Jesus Christ. In vain may the 
wicked call for the rocks and the mountains to cover 
them, from the wrath of the Lamb. 

How solemn is the thought, that those who have 
not their names written in the book ot life, will be cast 
in the lake of fire. It is not only the swearer, the 
drunkard, and the most vile sinner, that will meet this 
dreadl'ul doom, but all those that disbelieve the gospel 
of Christ, shall be cast into the lake that burns with 
fire and brimstone, where the smoke of their torment 
will ascend up for ever and ever. 

The compassionate Saviour, wdiose errand into the 
world, was an errand of mercy, and a pattern for the 
children of men. Infinite love dwelt in his heart, yet 



32 IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 

he concealed not from man his awful doom, that those 
who rejected his gospel, he would sit in judgment 
upon them, and pronounce that awful sentence, "De- 
part from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared 
for the devil and his angels." 

O! sinner, reflect upon the love of that Saviour 
while he wept over Jerusalem, crying, " O ! Jerusalem, 
Jerusalem, how often I would have gathered you, as a 
hen gathereth her brood under her wings, but ye would 
not !" O ! sinner, how often you have been invited 
to come to the physician of souls, but you would not. 
Notwithstanding, infinite pity, fills his heart, yet jus- 
tice requires him to pass the solemn decree, ''These 
shall go away into everlasting punishment, where there 
is weeping, and w^ailing, and gnashing of teeth, where 
the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." 
Therefore, also, he encourages his faithful ones, to fear 
not the threats of man, who can only kill the body, 
but to fear Him, wdio, after he hath killed, hath power 
to cast both soul and body into hell. Here is a so- 
lemn charge; warning sufficient to awaken the care- 
less to a sense of their danger. 

Oh! who can measure arms with the Lord? who 
can endure with everlasting burnings ? or, who can 
endure \hat fire that never can be quenched. Belov- 
ed, u.iregenerate souls, how faithfully has your case 
been set forth before you, not only by your minister, 
your weepi.ig friends, but by Christ himself, who has 
marked the way with his own blood ; may it excite in 
you an anxious desire for everlasting happiness. He 
has shown you that the heedless multitude rush into 
eternal night ; that no outward pretentions to religion 
will deliver you from the horrors of the second death, 
for, " wide is the gate, and broad is the way that lead- 
eth to destruction, and many there be that go in 
thereat." , 

What an impressive thought it must be, that the 
greatest number will tread the road to despair, after 



IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 33 

SO much warning. Oh ! hear it again : '' Straight is the 
gate, and narrow the way, that leadeth to Hfe, and few 
there be that find it ;" take heed before you plunge into 
everlasting woe ; flatter not yourselves that there is no 
danger of missing heaven, for there is great danger ; be- 
hold the downward road, it has the crowded multitude, 
and you have long traveled with the crowd. It is 
few, alas too few, that tread the path to glory, and live 
for God. O! may the holy spirit impress you with a 
pious and holy concern, to be found in the path of life. 
Beloved brother or sister, though you may be moral 
and have not indulged in any outbreaking crime, yet 
if you believe not the Gospel, and receive it not as 
God's word, you are an offender, and must be punish- 
ed with everlasting destruction ; for if any man receive 
not the truth of God's word, and have not the spirit of 
Christ, he is none of his ; for he that beheveth not the 
son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth upon 
him. Oh ! ye Gospel slighters, take heed, it is the way 
to eternal ruin ; for how shall you escape if you neglect 
such great salvation. Oh ! examine your hearts, and see 
if you are not justly condemned ; search the word of 
truth, and there you will find that you are, and that all 
your amiable accomplishments will avail nothing. You 
may be affectionate, dutiful, and obliging; but will this 
save you? Alas, no ! All these are excellent traits in 
youth, but they cannot atone for your sins, nor save 
your soul. If good works or morality would save the 
soul, Christ need not have died; but all your amiable 
accomplishments cannot clothe your naked soul, if 
you reject the Gospel of Christ. The requisition of 
God's word is : *' Thou shalt lov^e the Lord thy God 
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and all thy 
mind, and with all thy strength." Ask thy heart has 
God got all this ; have your affections been altogether 
placed on him, and have you taken him for your por- 
tion ? If not, you have broken God's first command- 
ment. O ! that the gloom could be removed from your 

3 



34 IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 

eyes, that you could see things in their real state. To 
disbeh'eve God's word, and reject the Saviour — what 
sin could be more damnable, and horrible to reflect 
upon ? This has been our true case, and unless we 
experience a change of heart, by divine grace, we need 
not hope to escape the punishment that awaits the 
guilty. Oh ! liow great is the debt we owe to God ; for 
on his bounty we live, his goodness m holds us, and 
keeps us from sinking into eternal woe. We are placed 
here by God for a great and noble ])urpose — a purpose 
of his glory, and to prepare lor still higher enjoyments ; 
that eye that never sleeps w^atches over us, and we 
are not forgotten bv him: he is still mindful of the 
purchase of his ow^ n blood. We owe our beinL»" to him ; 
every moment w^e live, every breath we draw, and 
every comfort we enjoy, comes from his liberal and 
bountiiul hand. Beliold, the moments as they pass are 
crowded with blessings, and as we pass on from one 
enjoyment to another, from one scene of delight to a 
still greater, every day brings new blessings ; and how 
ungrateful are we ; how ibrgetful of God, the great 
Giver of all — the fountain of life and the source of 
happiness ; yet God is not forgetful of us. Oh ! how 
we have neglected him for days, weeks and yeais, and 
yet he still bears with our ungratefulness, awaiting our 
return to him. He has not cut us off in our sins, and 
brought us to judgment. Oh, how undeserved, hovr 
unmerited, are all the mercies of God. 

No crime that man could commit, no scheme of 
wickedness is so heinous, as ingratitude to that being 
w^ho is so merciful tow^ards us. How eager and \van> 
tonly we have sought after sin ; how^ greedily we have 
run after destruction : yea, as a horse rush' s into the 
battle. God sees our madness and folly with compas- 
sion ; he beholds our helpless condition ; he sees that we 
are destroying ourselves, and kindly w4ns|ers : — in m© 
ye have iielp. Oh, it w^as to save us from destruction, 
that he gave up his beloved son to snatch us from the 



IS THERE NO DALM IN GILEAD. 36 

brFnk of death. What greater gift could he have pre- 
sented ? Nothing ill heaven or on earth. He was rich, 
and for our sakes became poor, that we through his 
poverty might be rich. What hath God withheld, or 
what more could he have done ? He has placed us 
here on this earth ; endowed us with gifts and capaci- 
ties, and crowned us with mercies ; he has given us his 
revealed word to teach us his will, that we might be 
restored from our fallen and wretched state by nature. 
Oh, how unspeakably guilty we must be, if we slight 
such goodness, and reject a Saviour's love, and be a 
willful enemy of God, here and hereafter rejected of 
him, forever more. 

To be forgotten of God, driven from his presence, 
and hated by him, who alone can make us happy in 
an eternal world, to which we are fast hastening, is an 
awful thoug^ht ; a thought, who can be reconciled to 
bear it ? Yet, certain as there is a God, sure as there 
is a sun, this will be the condition of every one who is 
not reconciled to God ; who would dare to hope to 
be admitted mto his glorified presence, and receive a 
welcome seat at his right hand, whose heaits are 
given to idols, and averse to the ways of God, and will 
have none of his reproofs nor his instructions. Then, 
most assuredly, this woiul disease of unbelief and re- 
bellion, w^ill sink you to hell. But, fatal as this disease 
is, there is a remedy, and a physician ready to heal you 
from its baneful influence. Then come to him, he is 
amply skilled, and can create in you a clean heart, 
and renew in you a right mind. If you could weep 
tears of blood it would not wash away your sins ; but 
Christ can, with his most precious blood, cleanse your 
heart irom all stains of guilt. Then, be persuaded to 
give your heart to him now, keep it from him no long- 
er, and spend no more of the precious time of youth 
in ignorance of your God and your eternal peace. 
Oh ! delay no longer, but come now, and he w^ill heal 
you. If you are ignorant of God, there is a remedy; 



86 IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD. 

if your heart is hard and impenetrable, and can bear 
all the terrors of the law, poured upon you, unmoved, 
there is a cure ; if you are vain and worldly-minded, 
help for this is just at hand ; if you are striving to 
cover your sins, by youi own good works, there is help 
at hand. Although you may have been long infested 
with sores of this fatal disease, even until the soul is 
in a lethargic state, and apparently no hope, yet this 
phvsician can cure all diseases ; nothing can baffle his 
skill. 

Aged father or mother, there still is hope, God him- 
self is our great physician ; to affect our cure is the 
work ot the whole Trinity. This was the commission 
of the blessed Jesus, to heal souls ; he is infinite in 
wisdom, and understands all our diseases, nor applies 
a wrong remedy ; he has almighty power, and can 
command and rebuke the disease, at pleasure : he 
possesses the most affectionate compassion for the dis- 
tressed, even tenders his help, without being sought af- 
ter. So wonderful is his patience, that he bears with the 
utmost ingratitude, striving through it all, to affect a 
cure, applies his own blood, the blessed meritorious 
means of our cure, the only balm. 

The grace of the spirit of God o[)erating upon the 
soul, accomplishes and perfects a cure by the sanctify- 
ing influence of the spirit, rooting out and destroying 
the very seeds of sin, makmg the soul perfect in holi- 
ness, and a temple for the indwelling of the holy one. 
Let all that are diseased come. O! may they see 
their danger, for it is great. If they do not apply, 
and that speedily, to this physician, they cannot be 
healed. 

O! awake! awake! consider your case before it is 
too late, for Christ is the only alternative whereby 
you may escape that death that never dies. 



CHAPTER IV. 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, 

Childhood and youth are vanity, and should be ob-^ 
served with interest. " Remember now thy Creator," 
as has been observed, is a great command. Many pro- 
fess a belief in Christ, worship him with their lips, while 
their hearts are far from him ; but true and genuine 
piety, should be the chief con'^ern of all ; and the di- 
rection of the most eminent preacher of olden times, 
was, " train up a child in the way it should go." 

I shall first address myself to you, parents and 
he^ds of families. Let the impressions of the early 
instructions of your chidren, sink deep in your hearts; 
the great responsibility that rests upon you, make it en- 
gage your earliest care. 

We know; from holy writ, that our children, by 
'nature, are far from God ; then it is all-important that 
we should teach them who and what Christ is, that he 
is the God, the Christ, the Saviour of the world, that in 
him is salvation, and in no other. Teach them the ne* 
cessity of faith, whereby they may obtain the divine 
favor, and reach heaven, the habitation of the blessed. 
Teach them to pray to God, in the name of Christ, 
pleading his death as the hope of their acceptance; to 
walk in holy obedience to his commandments, that their 
youthlul hearts may be trained to the worship of Al- 
mighty God ; to read the Scriptures, hearing God's 
word, and keeping the Sabbath. Acquaint them of 
the depravity of their nature; their inability to perforni 
a good act ; the nature and operation ot the holy spirit, 
and its enlioihtenincj influence. 

These siniple instructions, my beloved brothers and 



88 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. 

sisters, instilled in their youthful minds, will assist them 
in their feeble reflections ; direct and strengthen the 
pure motives that arise in their minds; restrain their 
giddy tempers, and teach them the way to God. It 
inclines them to think seriously, and the light of these 
early instructions will cleave close to them, like a nai! 
driven in a sure place. Early convictions stamped 
upon the mind, make a strong stand against their cor- 
rupt inclinations, and early impressions seldom wear 
entirely oft". How often we see such instructions 
blessed ; how often has God been pleased to crown a 
religious education with his special grace. Oh ! how 
often have we heard of individuals blessing God that 
they have religious parents, who have shown them the 
way they should go. The souls of your children are 
committed to your care — reflect how careful you are 
of their bodies, to feed, clothe, and nourish them — re- 
member their souls are abundantly more precious, and 
mubt shortly be in eternal happiness or misery ; then 
this important duty must not be put off* until they ad- 
vance in life and mingle in society. It is never too 
soon to seek Christ, as death calls the youth as well as 
the aged ; and alas, there is none who know how soon 
it will be too late. We have never heard of an indi- 
vidual that regretted seeking Christ early ; nay, the 
reflection has soothed the sorrows of affliction and 
brought comfort in a dying hour; but Oh, how many 
have moaned and lamented that they began too late. 
How they have regretted passed and gone-by days, 
that can never be recalled. Then dear children make 
use of the earlest opportunity of seeking God ; you 
may say ihat you have no inclination now to seek 
Christ; you have spent the. early part of your lives 
w^ithout hearing the Gospel, or enjoying the means of 
grace, and that other scenes present themselves that 
are more pleasing to the mind. Alas dear youth, the 
corruptions and pride of your own heart is enmity 
against divine truth; the false and derisive oj inions of 



RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. 39 

a vain world, keep you away from Christ, and teach 
you to look upon rehgion as enthusiasm, and to treat 
those that are concerned for your future peace with 
contempt. Suffer not the God of this world, I beseech 
you, to corrupt your tender minds, and blind you to 
your dearer interest, and prevent the light of the glory 
of Christ from shining into your hearts. The Saviour 
tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and his 
righteousness ; yea, seek him in early life, in the morn- 
ing of your day, for they that seek me early, said the 
dear redeemer, shall find me. Oh ! how encouraging 
the language of the prophet : the great Shepherd of the 
sheep will gather the lambs in his arms. How affec- 
tionate is he to those that seek him early. The longer 
you stay away Irom Christ the more difficult it will be 
to give your hearts to him. Oh ! seek religion while 
you are young; may it engage your youthful mind. 
The days of youth is the best and most proper time to 
become acquainted with God, and procure a mansion 
in the skies. The blessed Redeemer makes this press- 
ing inquiry : " What shall it profit a man if he gain the 
whole world and lose his own soul ?" 

May reason convince you of the importance of a 
change of heart. Lift your eyes above to the fleeting 
shore of time, and place your minds upon heaven and 
those blessings that result from an acquaintance w^ith 
God. Oh, my young friends, let those parental in- 
structions sink deep in your hearts ; may those affec- 
tionate truths from those who so dearly love you, never 
be erased from your minds, but follow you to a dying 
bed. If you will attend to those parential instructions, 
it will lead you to discover your ow^n guilt and misery ; 
teach you to abhor sin, and bring you to an acquaint- 
ance with God, and lead you to believe on Jesus Christ 
for salvation, that you may fu'ly rely upon his atone- 
ment and righteousness, trusting your eternal all to his 
care. Are you not convinced that you have rejected 
the council of God and rebelled against him, and griev - 
ed his blessed and holy spirit. 



40 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. 

The Lord hath spoken, and who dare refuse to hear : 
"Except ye re[)ent, ye shall all likewise perish." Can 
you hear this without being penitent and weeping over 
your transgressions ? for God commandeth all men, 
every where, to repent ; the rich and the poor, ths 
king and the hermit, are all to repent, abhor sin, be 
convinced of its evil, and seek an asylum in Christ for 
deliverance from its power, its guilt and punishment, 
O! may these reflections humble you in the dust, and 
lead you from the sincerity of your hearts to exclaim : 
/* God be merciful tome a sinner !" Remember it was 
love — might I not say even to you, dear youth — that 
brought the Saviour to suffer the scoffs of a vain world, 
and to assume the nature of man ; for he took upon 
himself the form of a servant, and was made in the 
likeness of man. "• Though he was rich, for your sakes 
he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be 
rich." The Gospel tells us his message was a message of 
peace; that his nature was divine, and that he was in 
the beginning with God, and was God, and the grand 
object of his mission was to atone for the sins of the 
v^'orld. He was wounded for our transgressions ; he 
was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our 
peace was laid upon him, and with his stripes we are 
healed. 

Oh ! the depth of the wisdom and love of God, in the 
plan of the redemption of a ruined world. God com- 
mandeth his love towards us, inasmuch as while we 
were yet sinners, Christ died ior us ; we have redemp- 
tion through his blood ; the forgiveness of sins accord- 
ing to the riclies of his grace, justifying freely all that 
b lieve. He is now exalted at the right hand of the 
Father to intercede for us, to welcome the faithful at 
the hour of death, and fix the eternal state of the bless- 
ed, at his right hand, and sit in judgment on the im- 
penitent. 

Religion, then, is the one thing needial; we cannot be 
happy without it; it will calm the tempest that gathers 



RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. 41 

over us, and its profits are incalculable ; they are lasting 
not only for time, but to all eternity. The youth have 
a pressing invitation ; all things in Christ are ready ; 
let not your former neglect keep you back. Aithnugh 
your sins have deserved eternal punishment, yet Christ 
has suffered in your stead, and by coming unto him, or 
believing in him, you may escape the punishment due 
to your guilt. His compassion is such towards those 
that come, that they shall not be turned empty away. 
Say not may a sinner come, may the vilest of sinners 
come ; yea, all may come — his word declares you may : 
**Comeunto meall the ends ofthe earth, and be ye saved, 
and whosoever will, let him take the water of lifo freely.'* 
Then if you are sick of sin, the blood of Christ cleans- 
eth from all sin, and mercy's door is open wide for 
every returning prodigal. Will you have salvation? 
It is offered in him ; he has saved thousands, and his 
arm is not shortened ; nor shall you apply in vain. 
Venture boldly, nor cast one lingering look behind on 
your own good works ; they are as filthy rags. You 
are, if you stay away lost forever ; you may see 
yourself helpless and condemned, yet come to him, 
as your sole dependence, take Christ for your, all and 
humble yoursj^lfat the Redeemer's feet, claiming noth- 
ing past — stripped of everything as meritorious in the 
smallest degree, and destitute of all good. Fix your 
faith and hope firmly on Christ, like the dying ttiief, that 
his infinite love may be diffused into your soul, and you 
be with Christ in paradise'. 

Without holiness we cannot see the kingdom of God ; 
we must render implicit obedience to the requisitions 
ofthe Gospel. Imagine not that because we are only 
saved through the death of Christ, that there is nothing 
wanting on our part ; for without the fruit of holiness 
our faith would be vain. The blessed Jesus said, "Let 
your light so shine before men, that they may see your 
good works, and glorify your father who is in heaven.'* 
The object of Christ's death was to redeem us from all 



42 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. 

iniquity, and purify unto himself a people zealous of 
good works ; then show your faith by your works. " If 
a man love me, he will keep my commandments." When 
we receive Christ, all we have and are is his : we are 
bought with a gem most sacred — not wilh silver or 
gold — hut the precious blood of Christ. He is the re- 
deemer of soul and body, and consequently the rightful 
owner; then our future life should be devoted to God, 
and the affections elevated to nobler objects than the 
vanities of time. The breathings of the soul should be: 
*'Not my will but thine be done." 

"Commune with God often in prayer," is a binding 
duty; our meat and our drink, should be to do his 
will; if Christ wept over the sins and follies of men, 
should not the same gracious principle prevail in our 
hearts. " Father forgive them, they know not what 
they do," was his prayer for his murderers. 

What a ray of glory hurts forth in the youthful 
mind, when the love and meekness of the Saviour is 
stan)ped upon the soul; no selfish passion within the 
breast ; but a fixed desire to glorify God, and honor the 
Saviour; laying up for themselves treasure in heaven. 
The grace of God has perfected a new creature, a new 
life, new desires, and a new heart, old things have 
passed away, and all things become new; the lofty 
and high-minded will become humbled, the drunkard 
become sober, the liar love the truth, &c, — having 
gained the victory over the world, desires to live and 
die honoring God, happy in him ; for it is life eternal 
to know God in the pardon of our sins, and Jesus 
Christ, whom he hath sent. O! may the youthful 
heart be given up to God, and the happiness of the 
soul be of more value in their view, than all the riches 
of the world ; for without the comforts o! religion, 
earth with all its riches and honors, is but a dreary 
waste; but the presence of God can cheer the droop- 
ing soul, and chase the darkest gloom away ; his pres- 
ence lias made the martyr's dungeon a paradise, and 



RELIGIOUS EDUCATIOxN OF CHILDREN. 43 

?hed a ray of glory over the silence of the chamber 
and bed of death ! O ! the love of God, it surpasseth 
knowledge; it is a jewel most precious; its worth Ian- 
guage cannot estimate, nor pen portray; the wealth of 
nations, yea, worlds unnumbered, would be mere pov- 
erty, for earth loses its charms, and the dark dismal 
grave loses its terror — the love of God in the soul i3 
a heaven below% a heaven amidst conflict and pain. 

" What a heaven below. 
My Redeemer to know," 

Saith that young convert, whose sins are all removed 
by the blood of Christ. Grant, great God, that this 
happy state may be realized, not only by the youth of 
the present age; but may the aged feel its w^orth, who 
have slighted offers of mercy in gone-by years. O! 
Lord, grant that their hearts may sicken, and loath 
themselves ; in bitter abhorrence may shame and hor- 
ror seize upon them, to think of their slighted mercies; 
may their stubborn wills be quailed, and their hearts 
melt before thee; may thy promises lead them to thy 
throne, that their days may be closed in peace ; may 
they see the way to happiness through the Saviour, and 
come to thee for life, for help ; and feel that the blood 
of Christ w\as shed for them, and that His righteous- 
ness can cover all their guilt. 

Destruction, truly, is what we have all merited; but 
may we sit at the Redeemer's feet, and learn of him 
patience, meekness and humility, that our lives may be 
consecrated to the Lord ; that when time here is swal- 
lowed up in death, it may be a messenger of peace ; 
our hearts be cleansed, and our souls fashioned a.new. 
O! Loid, strengthen us; may thy dying love animate, 
thy precepts and example guide us, and thy cautions 
warn us. Lord, thou hast promised to give the Holy 
Spirit to them that ask thee, young sister or brother 
may its sacred influence be embraced by you ; and 



44 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OP CHILDREN. 

your hearts early inclined to every gracious principle 
that the Holy Spirit teaches; for naturally our souls 
are like a barren desert; we must cherish the gospel 
precepts, be taught by him or we shall never know 
him arioht; if we are taught of him. the barren, wil- 
derness shall bud and blossom as the rose. ''Learn of 
me," said the blessed Redeemer, "for I am meek and 
lowly in heart/' 

Young men, marvel not that I said unto thee thou 
must be born again. I may weary your patience by 
repeated entreaties ; but my desiie is tliat you may not 
deceive yourselves with regard to your spiritual con- 
cerns. I pray you, with all the fervency of my soul, 
not to fold your hands and cry peace, peace, while de- 
struction is close at hand — for God declares there is 
no peace to the unregenerate ; you may hush the 
dreaded moment to sleep, and dream of safety ; but 
when awakened by the messenger of death, all the hor- 
rors of death eternal, will rush upon your vision, and 
those deceitful dreams will vanish forever; for the hu- 
man heart is deceitful and desperately wicked; there- 
fore, w'e cannot be too suspicious and w^atchful, and 
guarded against its delusions; it would blast all our hopes 
of joy, and our happiness would be as the morning dew ; 
confusion and horror would seize upon us, and we 
could but exclaim, " 1 am undone.'' 

God sees not as man sees ; for man looks at the out- 
ward appearance, but God looks at the heart; it is not 
all that have a name to the church that are Christians, 
who live morally, whose deportment and disposition are 
kind and lovely ; for those traits are found in thousands, 
that have not a change of heart; neither will all those 
fine qualities, and pleasing appearances avail anything 
in the great day of reckoning ; for they w^ill be weigh- 
ed in the balance and found lacking. I beg you, reader, 
to reflect seriously upon the example of the young 
ruler, recorded in holy writ, who ran and knelt before 
Christ, as if impressed with the weight of his guilt, 



RELJGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. 45 

and his soul liumbled into contrition before the Lord — 
cried, " good Master what shall 1 do to inherit eternal 
life?" His morality had so niuch merit in it, that he 
could approach Christ with boldness; he could say, 
apparently, with an unsmitten conscience, that he liad 
kept the commandments from his youth; all the out- 
ward performances he had attended to strictly, yet the 
main principle, or change of heart, was lacking. It 
plainly teaches us that he w^as in a state of sin, his 
wealth twined around his heart and stole his affec- 
tions. The outward appearance at ail times then will 
not do ; this young man, perhaps, w^as more moral than 
you, and manifested a concern for religion ; he appear- 
ed thoughtful about eternal things ; neither was he 
ashamed to inquire the way to heaven, that he might 
dwell with the perfect in glory. Now, dear reader, 
examine yourself — are you even as moral as this young 
ruler; have you not broken the commandments, and 
yet dream of heaven ; have you enquired what you 
lack of being prepared ; have you been dutiful to your 
parents ? All these admirable traits were to be found 
in this rich young ruler ; there was something very in- 
teresting about him, his life had been moral, he had 
been a dutiful son, affectionate and kind, tliat even at- 
tracted the attention of the Saviour ; he saw so much 
in him that he loved him; but when Christ told him to 
sell all that he had and follow him, his heart sank with- 
in him ; though he was lovely, he loved the world more 
than God — "and if any man love the world, the love 
of the Father is not in him/' Young man, outward 
performances will not save you, morality will not save 
you, only from the contempt of the well-bred and 
civil part of the community ; it is true it is a noble 
principle in the heart of man to respect himself and 
the peace of the community at large ; but 1 solemnly 
assure you that you must have a change of heart, you 
must count the worl j lost if you win Christ, possess 
the blessings heaped upon you by a beneficent hand as 



46 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, 

SO many mercies, and possess them as though you pos- 
sessed them not ; use them as the means of doing 
good, given you by God, and it will advance the salva- 
tion of your soul. We are blessed with every means 
of grace, live in a christian clime, we have not to bov^ 
to o;raven unao;es or risk our fate with rulino; authorl- 
ties, but meekly we can worship under our own vine 
and fig tree ; but let us beware of risking our eternal 
peace upon outward privileges ; we may be nurtured 
on the lap of religious instruction, and yet have not a 
change of heart, neither know God in the pardon of 
our sins, for their knowledge comes only by faith in 
Christ our Redeemer. O! it would be an affecting 
scene to witness the death bed of one that had had 
those religious opportunites, and yet strangers to grace ; 
these will add greater and still greater w^eight to their 
condemnation. Alas! how many of the present en- 
lightened age will appear in the marriage chamber 
without the wedding garment ? O shall they sit under 
the droppings of the sanctuary, and yet hear Christ say, 
*' depart ye workers of iniquity, 1 know you not/' 
The kind instruction that you may have had cannot 
save you, unless you treasure it up and put it into 
practice, the faith of others cannot save you, your fa- 
ther's or mother's prayer cannot save you, you must 
give your own heart to God. You may have [)arents 
as ri<^hteous as Job, who prayed and fasted and offered 
sacrifice ibr his children, yet it will not save you nor 
plead your case before God; you must be born again. 
How many parents are made to mourn and weep to 
see their children in the road to ruin ? O! think ou 
the solemn realities of eternity — eternitj^ ! eternity! 
that unchanging state, in which your destiny will b© 
sealed forever. 

Dear youth, you may have been taught your evening 
and morning prayer, and ever since your recollection, 
to visit your closet ; and perhaps few Sabbaths have 
you spent without hearing a sermon — you may be 



RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. 47 

ready to say, as did the youth in the gospel, '' all these 
have I observed, and what lack I yel ?" Shall I say 
you lack all ihings. You may sdy it is a hard saying, 
who can be saved ? Bring yourselt to the standard of 
truth, and there you will be favored to see what you 
lack — you lack an interest in Christ's merits. We 
highly approve of those religious instructions being at- 
tended to ; the christian cannot live without prayer ; 
the spiritual life cannot be sustained without prayer, no 
more than the animal life can be sustained without 
food, but attending to outward forms does not merely 
make you a child of God, you muj honor him with 
vour lips, while your heart is far from him ; you may 
offer up your pretended devotions without a serious 
thought of that Being w^hom you address. O! how 
little earnestness, how little sincerity or life is there in 
all your devotions, although you have been a constant 
attender at church; yet how little have you treasured 
up; your religious performances are so meritorious, 
and your acts so noble, that there need be no exami- 
nation into the heart. I have observed all religious 
ceremonies from my youth, and surely I must be saved. 
Is this the ground on which you stand ? I beseech you 
examine impartially, if it is, it is on the sand, for your 
hopes w^ill be cut off*, and, if you trust in your good 
works, it will be as a spider's web. Jesus is the only 
foundation of a sinner's hope. 

You may be ready to plead that you have refrained 
from vice, and led an mnocent life ; dealt honestly with 
all with whom you have had intercourse ; you have not 
debased your- character as the drunkard, the swearer, 
or the liar; you are not stained wi:h such open vices. 
True, the world may look upon you as innocent. Yet, 
if you would sit in judgment on your own heart, if you 
would examine yourself as sincerely as you should do, 
you would find, without a Saviour, you are undone 
forever ; you would see that in you there is no life so 
innocent that can give an assurance of heaven, or bear 



iS RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF YOUTH. 

the scrutinizing eye of God, or hush to quiet an awak- 
ened conscience; your good works would crumble to 
dust, and be carried off by the breeze ; you would see 
yourself, in the sight of God, the n)ost debased and 
wretched ; ingratitude and iniquity had filled your 
days ; you could but exclaim, who shall deliver me 
from the body of this death? Yea, a small sin that 
the world would wink at as nothing, if unpardoned, 
would sink a soul to unutterable ruin. You might say 
it was a small sin for Eve to pluck the fruit of the 

farden that was forbidden, yet it turned them out of 
'aradise ; yea, and small sins as you may term them, if 
unrepented of, will turn the soul into hell. O! then, 
can 1 urge the necessity of repentance too strong, can 
I impress these truths too close? Morality is excel- 
lent, it is lovely, and much to be desired; it will char- 
acterize and adorn, yet it cannot give thee new birth; 
a man may be truly moral, and yet a stranger to reli- 
gion ; affection may dwell in your heart, cheerfulness 
may beam in your countenance, and all the accom- 
plishments adorn your mind, yet all these are mo- 
mentary ; they will shortly pass away and leave no 
trace behind ; but true piety hath charms beyond the 
grave — lasting as eternity. 

Oh think, dear youth, your time is short; you have 
much to perform on your short and hasty journey to 
an eternal world, and naught but religion can bear you 
safe to that blissful home. Then, dear youth, if you 
would know your real state, examine prayerfully and 
impartially ; leave all your meritorious acts behind ; 
your moral duties, your religious ordinances, and all 
your fancied attractions lay aside, and acquaint your- 
selves with the sinfulness of your own deceitful hearts. 
You will then see the necessity of repentance towards 
God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; you will see 
your helpless state, and commit your soul to the Lord, 
and seek your happiness in him ; this is the only way 
to escape that death that is eternal; "for I am the 



RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF YOUTH. 49 

way, the truth and the life : no man cometh to the Fa- 
ther but by me." Then there is no new route by which 
you can go to heaven, no nearer way, but by the cross ; 
repent and beheve and thou shalt be saved; the way of 
life is narrow, it cannot be trodden without repentance ; 
yet wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth 
to destruction — and many there be which go in there- 
at. Alas how many are called and few chosen ! 

''Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, and be ye 
saved/' How few obey the call, because they have to 
come by the cross ; therefore, they strive to enter in, 
on their own merit, and risk their eternal all. And 
wilt thou, vain youth, risk the frowns of God upon 
such a slender thread ? Vast eternity shall measure 
your sufferings or joys ! Think ! Oh think ! for a mo- 
ment, were you now summoned to appear before Him, 
where would you be sentenced to ; to that pit of woe 
where mercy's hand never could reach you. It is be- 
fore that dread Judge you must appear, to answer for 
all your mercies ; his eye cannot behold sin with the 
smallest allowance ; he knows all your secret sins, and 
the desires of your heart lie open before him. View 
yourself, young man, as driven from God ; from those 
delightful realms of peace and joy into outer darkness ; 
and hear that loving, bleeding, Saviour say, " depart 
from my presence forever, I have stretched out my 
hands all the day long and no man regarded, I will 
now laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear 
cometh.'' O ! then, come to Christ without delay, that 
you may be found in him ; and united to him, that you 
may be blessed in this life and forever. 



CHAPTER V. 

ON WISDOM. 

James has given us some striking illustrations of 
wisdom, and it has been justly remarked, that it is a 
wise man that understands himself. The apostle points 
out the difference between the wisdom of the world 
and spiritual wisdom : the wisdom of the world is 
earthly, sensual, and devilish ; but spiritual wisdom is 
pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated. 

Now, beloved reader, I desire to impress on your 
mind the value of spiritual wisdom. Let you be 
young or old, I pray God by his blessed spirit to 
impress your mind with its true value, its worth, and 
its power ; it teaches the way of salvation ; teaches us 
our duty to God, our neighbor, and ourselves. It is an 
internal grace, given us by the holy spirit, whereby we 
can discern things that belong to our peace, the salva- 
tion of our soul, and the glory of God. If we have 
this wisdom that comes from God, we shall know the 
sinfulness and plague of our own hearts ; we shall learn 
all its maladies, and become convinced of the remedy 
that will affect a cure ; we shall not trust to ourselves 
to administer the remedy, but apply to the great phy- 
sician Christ ; w^^ feel our own poverty, and therefore 
seek for true riches in Christ. 

Beloved reader, this wisdom is no other than the 
true light that is come into the world, that reproved 
the world of sin. It is the light of the knowledge of 
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ ; and God, 
of his infinite mercy, has commanded it to shine into 
every man's heart. This wisdom then or light is the 
saving knowledge of God in Christ : yea he has dia- 



ON WISDOM. . 51 

;>iayed his mercy by and in him, and proclaimed his 
name and saving power in him. All the glory of the 
Godhead and the Divine perfections shine, most illus- 
aiously, in Christ ; the brightness of the Father's glo- 
ry, and the express image of his person, is fully mani- 
fest in him. It is fully displayed in the miracles he 
wrought, for he raised the dead by his omnipotent pow- 
er, and, like a God, he healed all manner of diseases, 
both temporal and spiritual ; the unclean spirits fled 
before him and cried let us alone. 

David and Solomon tell us, that " the fear of the 
Lord is the beginning of wisdom.'' Job says, " the 
fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ; and to depart from 
evil, is understanding." » 

Now, beloved young woman, have you this spritual 
wisdom ? Then adorn the doctrines of God, your Sa- 
viour, that your work may shine before men, that they 
may glorify God; and be instrumental in winning 
souls to Christ ; let the example of the wise virgins be 
your pattern ; take your lamp, which is your holy pro- 
fession, and fear not, and the oil of grace in your soul, 
that it may continue burning while you wait for the 
coming of the Bridegroom. Young man are you adorn- 
ed with this wisdom ? Then your walk will be circum- 
spect, like a man that has his eyes in his own head ; 
look well to all your goings ; watch your steps with 
prudence, and ponder well the path of your feet ; turn 
neither to the right hand nor to the left. This wisdom 
ivill teach the aged the value of time and the irretriev- 
able loss of the past, that the moments that are gone 
are gone forever ; that they have an immortal soul to 
save or lose : it will teach them to hasten without de- 
lay to give it to God ; for they shortly must pass away, 
and their body mingle with the clods of the valley : 
'* for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." 
! may the aged consider their days are few, their 
sun will soon go down to rise no more ; reader, per- 



52 ON WISDOM. 

mit me to ask art thou of this number ? ! could 1 
convince you of the true value of your soul ; it is im- 
possible to use language sufficient to express the worth 
of your soul. Could the wealth of Europe, Asia and 
America, purchase one soul ? No, it would be vanity. 
0!x}ould I, in all my meditations, my prayers and en- 
treaties, but be the means of directing a lost soul to 
Christ, it would amply reward me for all ray fatigue 
in writing* this little book. O! think, your soul is 
immortal; its origin is from God ; and if you have this 
true v/isdom, it will shine with more sparkling brilliancy, 
and far richer hue, when decked in the righteousness 
of Christ, than the stars of the firmament ; yea, shine 
when all those stars have disappeared in one eternal 
night. But a few more days, and your time will end ; 
your course will be finished on earth ; your cares, your 
fears and hopes will end ; and your immortal soul be 
fixed where it will remain to all eternity. While i 
wTite, while you think and peruse these lines, the souls 
of millions are receiving their just reward, singing the 
sDug of the Redeemer : " thrice worthy is the Lamb that 
has redeemed us by his most precious blood," or receiv- 
ing the reward due to their crimes, " Depart ye 
cursed into everlasting punishment.'' Their bodies 
have long since mouldered into dust, and their names 
lost from the records of time; yet that living principle, 
that immortal part still lives in eternity, although no 
trace is left behind ; no spot can tell v/here their bodies 
lie, they are forever unknov/n, and concealed from 
mortal eye. Aged brother or sister, tinae is sweeping 
onward when you and I shall meet this solemn change, 
to coverse with friends no more; my tongue will cease 
its pleadings, and this hand will lie motionless beneath 
the shroud ; those temiples will cease their throbbings 
from meditation and fatigue. O ! shall these fingers 
that now grasp the pen, be permitted to press softly on 
the harp, and touch the notes of angelic praises to God 
and the Lamb forever. O ! shall Christ's righteous- 



ON WISDOM. 53 

iiess cover all my guilt, and I, through endless ages, 
live in heaven ; O ! then think, before it is too late, 
of the worth of the soul ; embrace, without delay, the 
gospel of Christ, that you may escape endless despair, 
where the fire of God's wrath never shall be quenched. 
Think not that I am too much concerned about the 
soul, or trouble you with repeating its value ; the wisest 
men of olden times have shown their sense of its worth. 
Job would not have wished for an iron pen to inscribe 
on the rock forever, that it might never be erased in 
time, but that ages yet unborn might read the value 
of the soul, and a knowledge of God which this wisdom 
imparts to every one that seeks aright for it. Thousands 
have shown to the world how much they valued their 
souls ; they have stood at the stake undaunted, while 
the fire was kindled around them ; they would undergo 
the excruciating torture ; endure suffering too intolera- 
ble to be borne, rather than renounce their faith in 
Christ, Here is w^isdom, in its refined and purest light. 
Hundreds have been forsaken by their friends, w^hich 
they prized most dear ; they v^ould part with them far 
sooner than part with Christ. Others have been ston- 
ed, mocked, scourged and imprisoned ; destitute and 
despised, they have wandered about in sheep skins and 
goat skins, counted not worth37- of society ; driven to 
the wilderness and mountains for protection, have hid 
themselves in dens and in coves of the earth, but their 
God was their comforter. We are bound to believe 
that their spirits were borne up by more than human 
agency ; human nature of itself could not have with- 
stood such punishment ; they must see by faith into 
the joys of the redeemed; and have an eye to the re- 
compense of reward. Then if I urge on you, my reader, 
again and again to act w^isely, and weightily deHberate 
upon the worth of your soul ; don't count me an enthu- 
siast or beside myself; no, I am coolly deliberating on 
this momentous subject. If thousands could cheerfully 
rp.eet such persecutions, and face such danger undaun<- 



54 ON WISDOIV^. 

ted, welcome the cross, welcome the stake and if^ 
flames, shouting the praises of God and saying salvation 
Avould pay them for all their sufferings. Oh ! me thinks if 
we could but have an interview with them, they would 
tell us they were more than amply rewarded for all 
their pain ; what little sufferings they had undergone 
had made them rich and heirs of heaven. Though the 
world hated us, God loved us ; and though the world 
persecuted us, Jesus smiled and made our bitter cups 
sweet ; he made the cross- easy and the burthen light. 
Ah ! reader visit the dying chamber of the christian 
and learn your death lesson ; then while in life prepare 
for death ; you have but little tin>e for the work you 
have to do. Oh ! reader, be sure to choose God for 
your portion ; that glorious may be your end. 

O ! brother, sister, if you are not convinced of the 
value of the soul, ask that impenitent soul in a dying 
hour, he would tell^ you not to" do as I have done. J 
have procured w^ealth, and lost my heavenly treasure ; 
obey the gospel and save your souls ; don't trifle with 
eternal things as I have done. I have made to myself 
friends, yet God is my enemy. I have silver and gold, 
but it cannot stay the hand of death. O ! me thinks, 
they would cry from the very brink of hell : take care 
of your soul. How soon^may we languish on beds of 
sickness ; though now in apparent health, in a moment 
we may be hurried from time as hundreds are. Then 
why neglect the soul, when you may secure its eternal 
peace? Why refuse entering the way of life, until its 
gates are sliut forever ? Oh ! review your pas^t lives ; 
call to mind the interest that has been taken for you 
by your friends and relatives. Their concern was for 
your soul ; they sav/ your danger though unperceived by 
you. Angels, too, have an interest in your salvation. 
There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over 
one sinner that repenteth; they rejoice at your conver- 
sion ; watch over and guard you through life— sent by 
your Redeemer— and when time is no more, bear you? 



ON WISDOM. 55 

happy spirit to that world of bliss. O ! be wise unto sal- 
vation, nor trifle with eternal things ; if your soul had 
not been precious, it would not have cost the life's 
. blood of the son of God ; look a moment to Calvary — 
see the stripes and tortures of the cross — see the death 
and bloody spear — see the weight of human guilt and 
sin — see the blessed Jesus bow his head and say : It is 
finished — sinners by faith in me can be saved ; but the 
soul that will not repent shall perish. O ! I urge you, 
even with my dying breath, to seek this heavenly wis- 
dom, that you may have a clear estimate of the value 
of your soul. O ! shall an immortal spirit, for which 
Jesus has thus suffered and died, be lost, lost to all 
eternity ? how can you suffer the trifles of time to lead 
off'your mind and forget the immortal principle within, 
forget yofu. have a soul that m^ust live beyond the 
bounds of time — live when earth shall be wrapped up as 
a scroll, and be no more. O ! how can it be to aged men 
and women a matter of such little moment, when the 
God of the universe has so loved you and given you this 
soul to keep as a jewel for a brighter realm than this. 
He has withheld nothing that was necessary to save a 
world in ruin ; no, not even his son, the highest gift 
that heaven could bestow was not withheld, but freely 
given — and will vain man dare treat that gift with in- 
difference, and that Saviour with such contempt ? O ! 
how careful you are of this body — ^that it should be pro- 
vided for ; but you bestow no care upon the soul, your 
time is spent in pleasure or vanity, and you have no time 
to prepare for eternity ; yet you have had strong con- 
victions, the holy spirit has softly whispered in the ear 
)f thy soul : prepare for heaven, forsake the world, and 
:urn to God ; you are in the broad road that leads to 
misery and death. O! have not holy thoughts stolen 
into your heart — -have ydu not at times wished you 
were a christian, and have you not been visited again 
and again by this heavenly messenger? O! why does 
the blessed spirit thus strive ; and bear with you from 



56 ON WISDOM. 

season to season ; why has he not taken his final leave 
when so often repulsed ? he has never been sought af- 
ter by you ; because God loved you, nor willed your 
destruction. O ! how often under a sermon has your 
heart been made to melt, and you ready to say, I have 
almost a mind to be a christian ; you have seen the 
plague of your own heart — you have felt the sting of 
a guilty conscience — and been induced at times to halt 
and turn. O! yield to those sweet impressions of 
God's love, that you may not have to bew^ail in confu- 
sion and horror this dreadful sin of neglect. 

This wisdom will shew itself in early youth as well 
as in riper years ; it is like a candle that is placed on 
an elevated spot, it illuminates the whole house ; so this 
wisdom shows through the whole life, it awakens a deep 
concern about our future state, leads us to examine our 
hearts, how it will be w^ith us at the last, that we may 
be ready for death let it come when it will. This wis- 
dom is from God, who is made unto us, wisdom righte- 
ousness, sanctification and redemption ; and the means 
of increasing this knowledge is the w^ord of God. 
" Search the scriptures ; for in them ye think ye have 
eternal life ; and they are they, which testify of me.'' It 
is pure of itself, and in all its effects, it produces undefiled 
religion ; and if you possess it, you hold the mysteries of 
faith in a pure conscience, for faith unfeigned, proceeds 
from a pure heart ; it is in opposition to that wisdom 
which is sensual. To sum the whole in a few words, 
it is without hypocrisy, in every sense of the word, to- 
wards God and man, not making pretentions to what 
they have not ; it holds communion with God ; the 
summit of christian experience in this life, w^hich is 
nearest to heavenly bliss, for happy is that people 
whose god is the Lord. This wisdom illuminates our 
minds upon all subjects of eternity, enables us to rely 
upon the promises of God's -word, for by it our walk 
through life should be regulated, for we are fast hasten- 
ing to eternity. Then prepare for it, seek this wisdom 



ON WISDOM. 57 

at all risks, let you lose what you may in seeking it ; 
embrace it for it teaches you that with it you embrace 
every good ; and if you enjoy the smiles of a Saviour, 
you can bear all your sufferings ; for, without this, life 
is kjLit a. dream, and there is nothing real or worth the 
thoughts of an immortal soul ; '' for what shall it pro- 
fit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own 
soul/' Then seek first the kingdom of God and his 
righteousness ; then may the wicked forsake his ways, 
and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and strive to 
enter in at the straight gate, for straight is the gate 
and narrow is the way that leadeth to life. O ! how 
many are the commands we might bring to shew the 
necessity of coming to the Lord, and laying hold on 
eternal life, that we may be found of him in peace, 
without spot, and blameless. O ! then, if we have this 
divine wisdom in our souls, let us live strictly under 
its influence ; if we are made the children of the light, 
let us put away all the works of darkness, that we 
may walk in the light of truth and hohness ; here is the 
important doctrine that the gospel teaches, a lessen 
that makes the ignorant wise, which is the one thing 
needfull, all that has occupied the attention of men, 
compared with it, is lighter than vanity, or the bubble 
upon the wave. 

O ! what a blessed change does this wisdom produce 
in the soul ; it is Hke the rising of the sun, gilding the 
far west, and throwing its golden hue on the whole 
earth ; it carries divine life and heat with it, and im- 
prints heavenly charms on the soul. Surely this 
is encouragement enough to animate every child of 
God, to a faithful, watchful care over their conduct 
in hie, lest the tempter may deceive them, and they 
become cast away. 



CHAPTER Vl. ^ 'jt 

Reflections on conversion, or the nevv truth. 

Beloved reader, notwithstanding I have treatea on a 
change of heart in my former remarks, yet I feel the 
w^eight of it still resting on my mind, and may the 
spirit of the living God assist in this important subject. 
It is truly pleasing to see even an outward change in 
the profligate ; it will perhaps greatly refine the morah 
of the neighborhood, and give relief to society in gen- 
^ral. But the change to which I allude is an internal 
change, and produced by the holy spirit of divine grace 
on the soul, by which we are enabled to act, to turn to 
God and seek his mercy, for he gives lis this power ; 
he commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent. " Let 
the wicked man forsake his ways, and the unrighteous 
man his thoughts ; let him turn to the Lord and he will 
have mercy on him, and to our God, and he will abun- 
dantly pardon/' ^j thus turning and repenting, God 
regenerates the heart; gives the new birth which 
emerges into hfe ; overwhelmed in love, the soul bursts 
forth in raptures of joy and exclaims with David : 
'* Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none 
on earth that 1 desire but thee ; for God is the strength 
of my heart, and my portion forever/' Thus every 
regenerated soul has a knowledge of God, through 
Christ the Son. 1 John, v — 20 : -'And we know that the 
son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding 
that we may know him that is true : and we are in him 
that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the 
true God and eternal life.'' Thus the regenerated sou 
has such a knowledge of Christ as to venture on him 
and look to him for salvation ; take him for their proph^^ 



2:e^lectio]^s on caNVERsior?, 51? 

et to teach and instruct them ; their priest, who by his 
sacrifice has made atonement for their sins ; by his 
intercession pleads for every blessing for them ; takes 
him for tlreir king to rule over them and protect them. 
Thus the convert esteems all the commands and ordi- 
nances as perfectly right ; contemplates the divine 
atributes, and has confidence in his abilities. They see 
by faith their saviour and believe on him ; they see 
the riches of his grace ; they hear his voice in the gos- 
pel and lay hold on eternal life, and taste that the Lord 
is gracious. Every renewed soul has a knowledge of 
the blessed spirit of God, which is a practical knowl- 
edge. The mere theory of any knowledge, unless re- 
duced to practice is of no avail ; to profess to know 
God and Christ, and in w^orks deny him, is far from 
being a saving knowledge. The spirit teaches that to 
deny all ungodliness and the world's lusts is enjoined, 
and it bestows a soul-humbling nature ; it is not proudj 
haughty nor overbearing. Paul counted all things lost 
buffer the excellency of this knowledge — far preferable 
to gold or silver : to jewels or precious stones — for to 
know him is life eternal. Young sister have you en- 
tered upon this holy acquaintance in the name and 
strength of Christ? Then hold fast to your profession 
with holy courage and confidence, for it is highly impor* 
tant to be steadfast in all our religious duties, placing our 
confidence in the Lord, trusting in him for grace to help 
in every time of need, and bring us safe to his eve^° 
lasting kingdom. Trust to his faithfulness in the ful- 
filment of all his promises, as he is the author of all 
happiness, the fountain and source of every blessing. 

ISlow my sister or brother, you may exercise confi- 
dence in Christ as the sole cause, author and captain 
of eternal salvation ; this salvation is not only applica- 
ble but complete and perfect ; nor is there salvation in 
any other ; in him is reconciliation, peace, pardon and 
a robe of righteoiisness ; everything that is good is 
freely given his people, that 'has first given him their 



60 REFLECTIONS ON CONVERSION. 

hearts ; that gift shall be recompensed a hundred fold. 
No man can give more than God, for with Christ he 
freely gives us all things. O ! what encouragement 
there is to every one to draw near to God and trust in 
him, for things temporal, for all the outward mercies ; 
for food and raiment comes from his liberal and benefi- 
cent hand, and is necessary for the support and com- 
fort of life. Every christian may look back on the 
past favors and goodness of God to him renewed in 
confidence and expectation of future favor, for their 
heavenly father knows they have need of all these 
things ; and if the blessings of God are so liberally bes- 
towed on us temporally, there is great encouragement 
to trust in him for spiritual things, for he is represent- 
ed to be the God of all grace, and has erected his 
throne of grace, and all are envited to come, for all 
things are ready ; he has chosen you through sanctifi- 
cation of the spirit and belief of the truth, and promis- 
ed eternal blessings to his yeople ; prepared eter- 
nal happiness inconceivable, for them that love him 
invited them to pleasures that never end, through 
Jesus Christ ; for eternal life is the free gift of God 
through Christ ; he is the strong hold to them that 
thrust in him, their everlasting strength, his everlasting 
kindness, mercy, pity, is very great encouragement 
to seek an interest in his love, to come to him with 
humble boldness. 

The Lord has reserved to himself a people, subdued 
the carnal mind, reigned over the sensual earthly part, 
and joined them to his own spirit. Many truly have 
sought the Saviour from childhood, but their youthful 
hearts have been betrayed and led off by the enemy, 
neither knew how to seek relief, nor call on him with 
assurance of faith, for help, that their minds might be 
more inclined towards God, which has caused an in- 
crease of darkness to overshadow the soul, and great 
sorrow to fill the heart ; w^e all alike stand in need of 
the life, power, and cojisoling presence of God, to re- 



REFLECTIONS ON CONVERSION. 61 

new us, and teach us the way of life, and turn our 
minds to the light of truth ; and thus being turned to 
him, we are permitted to taste of the true wisdom, the 
power, the life, the righteousness, and the redemption 
of Christ. Thus, being redeemed from sin we come 
to experience that peace of mind, that the world knows 
not of. Thus, we are born anew by the everlasting 
power of life, and a change of heart is wrought 
in us by the holy spirit of God. Here, some 
would say, was the effectual call of God, whereby 
we are converted to him and made anew; brought 
into the life, and power, and' unity of spirit with 
Christ, partaking freely of his regenerating grace ; 
and being justified before him, we have peace within. 
This we know to be true and no falsehood, yet the 
world may reject it, for it cannot bear the truth, thus 
being impressed with the weight of sin, and testify of 
it to the world, the world will not receive the truth 
nor hear us ; yet, our work is to hold forth the virtues 
of Him that has called us, to forsake all and follov/ 
him, lead entire new lives, rejecting our old natures, 
and walking faithfully with God ; we have pleasure 
in him, and in that world of joy a crown of life that 
will countervail all the scoffs and reproaches of the 
world. Thus, being brought into the true life and 
power of the blessed truth as it is in God, we are to 
be witnesses for him, to be instruments in his hands to 
bring others from a state of death and captivity, that 
they may experience the sanctifying and redeeming 
powers of God, and receive the life and liberty of his 
redeemed ; then putting on the whole armour of God, 
we are to fight against the power of darkness every- 
where, in meekness and in his powers, not according 
to our own ways, as in the wisdom of men ; but the 
holy spirit must teach and direct us, so that we may 
feel his everlasting arm underneath, to support us in 
our meekness ; for we fight not with flesh and blood, 
but with the powers of darkness that leads souls from 



62 REFLECTIONS ON CONVERSION. 

God to eternal destruction. O ! that men would seri- 
ously reflect, not with" the mind that is alienated from 
God, but with that true principle that lies concealed in 
the heart ; they would no longer run on in censuring 
God's people ; may they be sober and take heed what 
they do, lest they fight against God. Brethren, are you 
not apprised of the reason why the world hates you ? 
Because ye are not of the world. Therefore be cour- 
ageous, bear your persecutions, your scoffs and re- 
proaches, and stand as witnesses for him in holj^ obe- 
dience ; human nature may shrink and give back, un- 
able to bear persecution ; of ourselves, we are unable ; 
yet our sufficiency is in him, and by the life and pow- 
er of God in us that gives the ability, we can stand 
unshaken through every storm of persecution. O! 
remember the reproach of Christ is far greater riches 
than all the treasures of Egypt. Yea, that peace with- 
in, that serenity of soul, the sweet presence of God 
overrules, doubly rewards us for all our persecution, 
makes up all our losses, so we have no cause to mur- 
mur or complain — rather rejoice, that we are worthy 
to bare persecution for Christ's sake. 

O ! that the eyes of such were opened, that they 
could see whom they oppose, see whom they reject, and 
harden their hearts against. O ! that they were awak- 
ened to their true state, and bow to him and receive 
life, who has died to free them from condemnation and 
eternal death. 

Are not these important and weighty matters ? They 
immediately concern us all, for conversion leads us out 
of all error ; it is the blessing that leads us to choose 
God for our portion; it is the blessing that makes the 
poorest rich ; for the blessed Lord gave it as his sol- 
emn judgment, and that to one that he ioved, that one 
thing is needful. God sees not with the eye of man ; 
for all that man deems most proper and most impor- 
tant, is less than vanity ; his care, his wisdom, is but 
folly, and worthless as the childish toy; then labor not 



REFLECTIONS ON CONVERSION. 63 

for the meat that perisheth, but for that which endm% 
eth to eternal life. I wish not to forbid a prudent re- 
gard to the duties of life, which is beconning of all ; 
but I desire to impress this one thing needful, upon our 
minds, which should command afar greater attention; 
the important concerns of the immortal soul ; for the 
blessings of regeneration endure forever — that happy 
soul that is born ofGod, shall live through a boundless 
eternity in all the rapturous joys of God's redeemed. 
O! think how swiftly we are passing through life; 
spirits that are returning back to God, hovering as it 
were over the gulf of woe ; and but a few days more^ 
and we shall depart hence, and drop into an unchange- 
able state ; it was to teach us the way to eternal life, 
that brought Christ to suffer — for this very end he came 
from glory — the word of God substantiates it, and 
assures us of this truth. O! man, do you not profess 
to believe it? then by it all your pursuits in life should 
be regulated, for by it you shall be judged. O ! then, 
fear him, who after he hath killed, hath power to cast 
into hell ; then let neither poverty nor riches prevent 
you from seeking this great salvation, and secure to 
yourselves durable riches and immortal honors ; it is 
but a small matter to live in poverty-^endure persecu- 
tion and hardship — -when the soul is born by God's 
loving spirit, to gaze on heavenly realities---when the 
happy spirit shall be v/rapped in everlasting peace. O! 
reader, these are solemn truths ; religion is, and will do 
all for you ; the riches and honors of the world are 
trifles compared with that gracious blessing ; then if 
you are a christian and forsaken by friends, in poverty 
and rags, your robe shall be white and unsullied, and 
angels shall conduct you to the home of your glory, 
forever to dwell in the mansions of bliss. O ! triumph- 
ant thought, to have treasures beyond the grave ! Ther 
count nothing too dear to make a sacrifice of — nc 
earthly friend— no earthly treasure — keep you from 
heaven ; count nothing too dear to be resigned ; and 



64 REFLECTIONS ON CONVERSION. 

secure your eternal peace, that you may escape the 
worm that never dies, and the fire that never quench- 
eth. O ! dear reader, will you reflect — will you give 
your heart to God, and receive the salvation of your 
soul, and the blessed Saviour as your all. O ! may that 
God of love grant, to fasten the solemn truth on your 
heart that the path of sin and folly leads the soul to that 
pit of fire that never shall be quenched. O ! then, escape 
for your lives to the blessed Jesus. 



CHAPTER VII. 

A CHANGE OF HEART CONTINUED. 

AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MAY KNOW 
THEE THE ONLY TRUE GOD AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM 
HE HATH SENT Johu 17,-iii. 

As I have already dropped a few thoughts on con- 
version, this remark of John, who was a witness of 
Christ, that he was the true h'ght, lay weightily upon 
my mind ; hoping it might remove the doubts that may 
cover some afflicted minds, and encourage them to 
strive for a knowledge of God's strengthening, con- 
verting, and sanctifying power, notwithstanding some 
teach that we cannot know that our sins are forgiven, 
and we, have a knowledge of our acceptance with 
God. Now if it is eternal life to know God, how 
is an adult to experience eternal life without this 
knowledge, was it not this saving knowledge of God 
that all true believers have, that made Job declare, (in 
the most striking language,) *•'! know that my Re- 
deemer lives T' 

Truly do the Scriptures teach us that there is but 
one God, who is the only rightful object to whom every 
rational being should direct his adoration ; it teaches 
us that we may have a knowledge of Him through the 
grand volume of nature which is spread before us, and^ 
filled with his omnipresence, which impresses with such 
awe, that none But an A*theist would dare come out 
even in the face of nature, and say that there was no 
God ; and although he may shut his eyes from this 
mighty revelation of the great God, yet no doubt his 
heart is smitten when he refuses to believe ; but be- 

6 



66 A CHANGE OF HEART CONTINUED. 

loved, he hath revealed himself through the medium 
of his Son, Jesus Christ, who is the brightness of his 
Father's glory, and the express image of his person. 
The very creation of the world and those things that 
are visible, demonstrate to us his eternal power and 
Godhead ; truly it is said, none but the foul could say- 
there is no God : then we are bold to say every chris- 
tian clearly admits the truth of divine revelation, and 
the testimony which GoJ has given us ol his Son. 

What a sublime reflection ! what an important sub- 
ject! Was the mind of man ever called upon to act 
upon one of equal importance? What an enthusi- 
asm spreads itself over the whole man, when subjects 
of self-interest are presented ; when an important politi- 
cal question is agitated ? But tbese are all insignifi- 
cant, and sink into nothing when com|)ared vvith eter- 
nal life. You may arrive to the height of your anti- 
cipated pleasures, to the very pinnacle of fame ; but 
what are all these, when brought in competition with 
eternal life, which you can attain unto through the 
knowledge of God ; for all earthly attainments are ve- 
ry short in their duration, and the time is rapidly has- 
tening when they can aflford us no consolation. O! 
then, we should learn to possess the world as though 
we possessed it not; and, when time shall fail, and all 
its enjoyments cease, may we lay hold on the lealities 
of a blissful immortality. 

What honors are bestow^ed upon men of talent and 
learning, whose time has been successfully spent ia 
acquirements of many useful arts, and can unibid the 
great volume of nature? But alas! where are the 
honors that are bestowed upon Him that hns brought 
eternal life even to us through a knowledge of himself, 
unfolding not the treasures of earth 1)ut the riches of 
the kingdom; for his kingdom v^^as not of this world, 
and by him was inan reconciled to God, and the resti- 
tution of all things. 



A CHANGE OF HEART CONTINUED. 67 

Reader, for the sake of this knowledge of him whom 
he hath sent, would you follow him and advocate his 
principles and doctrines at tfie hazard of your hves ? 
The dear disciples defended it at all hazards, even in 
the very hour of death ; neither could they promise 
themselves succor from the authorities that were ; yes 
it was a knowledge of Christ Jesus that supported 
them. The ancients in the early age of time had all 
the means of this knowledge except that which is re- 
vealed in the holy Scriptures, yet how destitute were 
they of this knowledge, and how far from enjoying it ; 
for God said they were alienated from him hy wicked 
works, whereby their minds were darkened by the ig- 
norance that prevailed in themselves; their ideas of a 
future and eternal state were confused and obscure, 
filled with superstitious notions, their religious rites 
were scarcely noticed among Christians, though the 
oracles ot God were committed to them, ;ind the true 
light was revealed through the medium of typr s and 
shadows; yet these they mingled with their vain tra- 
ditions, for their leaders taught the doctrines and com- 
mandments of men; for these had not a knowledge of 
God, for they rejected the promised Mesiah, even Je- 
sus, whom God hath sent, and, even dowMi to ihe pre- 
sent aoje, how many are destitute of this knowledge, 
which is eternal life ! Suppose ye not that Abrafiam 
had this knowledge ? The prophets, apostles and mar- 
tyrs of old enjoyed this life, for they walked by faith 
not by sight; for we hope for that which we see not; 
for what a man seeth why doth he yet h 'pe for it ; but 
if we hope for that we see not, then we with patience 
wait for it; and if we have communion with the spir- 
it and fellowship with God, it will depend greatly upon 
our knowledge of Him, and of Christ whom he hath 
sent. Thus by watchful and prayerful diligence, wait- 
ing humbly for the manifestation of the spirit, we will 
receive the assurance that w^e are in the enjoyment of 
lite eternal, and consequently that love which is unlim- 



68 A CHANGE OF HEART OONTINUPD. 

ited, and knows no bound, is drawn forth towards all 
mankind ; with inexpressible anxiety for their eternal 
peace, that all may be brought to know God, who is 
love, and that Saviour which is eternal life, and the 
true light that enlighteneth every man that cometh in- 
to the world, and views with an impartial eye all the 
children of men, however distant from him they may 
be, •as children from one parent, and greets them in 
love as brothers and sisters of the same great family, 
knowing that God made of one blood all nations of the 
earth. Then who will presume to say "he loves God, 
whom he hath not seen " and hates his brother. He 
must feel the weight of that condemned sentence, that 
he is a liar and the truth is not in him: '*forif he 
loves not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he 
love God whom he hath not seen T' 

Reader, while you reflect on the weight and truth of 
these lines, don't let doubt and fear cover your mind, 
and conclude it utterly impossible — it is too high for 
man to reach — it is a knowledge that can never be 
attained unto. Holy writ assures us that God hath 
given unto us eternal life ; and this life isin his beloved 
8on. Dare we suppose God would lie ? Naj', verily. 
Then receive with humble heart the record which he 
hath given us of his Son. The voice from heaven would 
not have been, "this is my beloved Son, hear ye him," 
if it had not been essential to salvation for us to believe 
and receive him. How many view this all-important 
subject in a far different light. Instead of being taught 
their own insufficiency, and that they should seek to 
obtain an interest in Christ, which must be by repent- 
ance and forsaking of sin, his pride must be humbled 
and his self-will subdued, for all these things stand 
opposed to the plan of salvation ; and by thus denying 
themselves of their former sinful practices, they are 
enabled to see the blessed truth, that is brought to light 
through the Gospel of Christ. O ! that the time may 
come, in which gross darkness shall no longer cover 



A CHANGE OF HEART CONTINUED. 69 

the minds of the children of men ; when that blessed 
moment shall arrive, when the veil which now hangs 
between all moral nature and eternal truth shall be 
removed May the influence of the blessed truth spread 
from pole to pole, and may the hands of the ministers 
of Christ be stayed up, until the covering or vail that 
is spread over all nations shall be taken away, and all 
shall know him from the least to the greatest ; have a 
saving knowledge of eternal life through Christ Jesus, 
that their iniquities may be forgiven, and their sins re- 
membered no more. Thus we are redeemed by grace 
divine, and brought into this saving knowledge of our 
acceptance with God, and freed iVom the corroding 
and heart-rending idea of never-ending torment; our 
thoughts are elevated to that more congenial clime, 
and we fondly anticipate that period when we shall re- 
alize eternal joys. O! reader! art thou in the even- 
ing of life and thy sun fast declining, and destitute of 
this knowledge; this rich treasure that far surpasseth 
the riches of earth, or the honors that men can bestow ? 
Every individual has a need of this knowledge.— 
Reader, if thou art old, thy need is gvent beyond de- 
scription, ; make thy fellowship with God ; for the 
old must die ; thy days are numbered, and pass swiftly 
away. This knowledge will solace every affliction, 
and teach you how to live, and prepare you for the 
mansions of bliss. If thou art young, this knowledge 
is also important ; it will save you from the snares of 
vice, sweeten every enjoyment in life, prevent you 
from being puffed up with vain things, that you may 
learn in every state therein to be content ; it will be a 
present helper in every time of need ; it will make you 
an example to the world, a city that cannot be hid; 
and when time to you shall cease, you may with Paul 
rejoice to know you " have a building of God, an house 
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens ;'' then 
remember it is before Him, the judge of all the earth, 
that we have to stand acquited or condemned. 



70 A CHANGE OF HEART CONTINUED. 

0! think of his nature and character, the design he 
had in your creation, that his name might be glorified 
in your salvaiion ; for Christ tasted death ior every 
man ; yea, he gave himself a ransom for all ; created 
and redeemed you; that we may all he children of our 
heavenly Father. Then seek this knowledge, and ac- 
quaint yourself with the God of peace ; it is not his 
will that any should perish, hut that all should come to 
this knowledge. O! that the desire of this knowledge 
flowed from every heart, for it deeply concerns every 
individual ; this knowledge is that faith or power of 
believing which emerges into eternal life, and fills the 
soul, not with notions of knowledge, but with the pow- 
er of life, which is nurtured only by the flesh and 
blood of Christ; for in him alone is that living virtue 
and immortal nourishment ; for that which is immor- 
tal, this acquaintance with the blessed God, leads us to 
fully trust in him, and rely on him for every blessing. 
Look to him for a supply of grace to help us in every 
time of need, and take him as our God and guide, even 
unto death ; resting assured that his rod and staff* will 
bear us through Jordan's cold stream, and biing us 
safely to his everlasting kiiigdom and glory. What 
fencouragement we have to trust in him ior all things, 
for his promise is yea and nay; for all things are at 
his disposal; all the blessings of grace, as reconcilia- 
tion, peace pardon, righteousness, life and salvation, 
are all the gifts of God : his great and precious prom- 
ises, suited to every case and condition of men, give 
freely to all that ask, and upbraideth none; how for- 
cible are the words of good old Jacob, even in his dy- 
ing moments; he expressed his knowledge of divine 
goodness through the whole of his life, *' the God that 
fed me all my life long unto this day." David fre- 
quently remarks God's goodness to him, to encourage 
his ()wn faith and that of others : 'Mhou art my hope 
O Lord God! thou art my trust from my youth, sure- 
ly goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of 



A CHANGE OF HEART CONTINUED. 71 

my life." May not all be encouragf^d to seek after 
spiritual blessings, and to trust in him for every thing 
that is needed for soul and body, for time and eternity ! 
for he is the rock of ages, the everlasting strength o\ 
those that put their trust in him. We could cail the 
experience of the ancients in all ages to animate anci 
encourage^s to seek this knowledge, without delay. 
What a cloud of witnesses could be brought from hoi} 
writ, and of christians of the present#ige, the happj 
experience of your acquaintance that have their mind:i 
placed in God; they tell you there is great peace, the}' 
have peace with God through Jesus Christ, whom he 
hath sent; a peace and a joy that the world cannot 
give nor take away; even satan and all other enemies 
are conquered by Christ; for he hath destroyed him 
that had the power of death— the devil ; and spoiling 
his principalities and powers, redeemed us from death 
and hell ; saved us from the wrath to come : happy art 
thou, reader, if thy acquaintance is mad#with God. 
O! may you cry to others to taste and see that the 
Lord is good, and may our hearts be lifted to God, 
that the gift of the knowledge of Him may be given 
us, that w^e may win Christ and know as ours, and 
enjoy all the blessings that flow from his love. O! 
give me the comforts of hope, the assurance of faith, 
and an unshaken confidence that thou art mv God, 
and all is peace- 



CHAPTER VIIL 

I LOVE THEM THAT LOVE ME, AND THOSE TIIAT SEEK 
ME EARLY SHALL FIND ME. 

• 

The Scriptures tell us that God is love. Beloved 
reader, have you been led to meditate on this sublinne 
and all-interesting subject? Have you meditated upon 
the design of this love? and that it has an imnnediate 
bearing in your own case ; that it is the grand criterion 
by which we are to know that we have passed from death 
to life, for which religion without love would be absurd 
in the extreme ; it is not a pretended love as Naphtali's 
was ; no, verily, but that love that flows from a pure 
heart, not (ftly to God, but to the brethren ; we must 
love all — of every denomination that love the Lord 
Jesus, and walk according to his precepts; although 
v^e may see many infirmities in them, and they differ 
from us in religious views; love them whether they be 
rich or poor, of our own people or of another nation ; 
for this is pleasing to God, according to his teachings, 
because old things are done avvay, and all things are 
become new. That proud heart is humbled, and our 
self esteem brought to a level with our christian breth- 
ren; we are not exalted with our own goodness; but 
this love teaches us humility of soul, and humbleness 
of mind 1 would not wish to be understood, that we 
are to be totally blind to the good we have done or 
could d'j to strengthen and encourage a drooping bro- 
ther or sister, or warn a sinner to flee the wrath to 
come; but this humility of soul teaches us our utter 
insufficiency to perform a meritorious act in the sijrht 
of God ; but we see ourselves unworthy and nothing 
but unprofitable servants ; and, although we may have 



EARLY PIETY. 73 

done what we well could do, yet it was nothing more 
than our duty to do; ioi Christ has done abundantly 
more for us. We are led to cry out how great is the 
disparity between God's goodness to us and our just 
dues : our hearts are made to mourn at our many short 
comings: of our sinfulness ; and the amount of suffer- 
ings our guilt has caused ; therefore, we can lay no 
claim, as regards our goodness, to divine mercy : but 
in our despondency is there no hope? yes, blessed be 
God, the gospel oflers relief, and assures us that Christ 
has redeemed us from the condemnatory sentence of 
the law, and freed us fiom the dominion of sin. 

But alas! how far we come short of glorifying God 
in all our acts, and if there is any good performed by 
us, it is God that perfecteth it, thiough his unmerited 
love. This humility teaches us to prefer or applaud 
others for their ^ood works, instead of ourselves. 

Thus we see his love manifested towards us in every 
thing we cast our eyes upon ; our food and raiment, 
and everything we enjoy, are gifts from his bountiful 
hand. Seed time and harvest; summer and winter; 
continue as a continual stream of blessings. He has 
• mercifully preserved us in infancy, in childhood, in 
youth ; and continues to extend his providential care 
even to the present day ; and if we continue in this 
humble, sell-denying way, relying on him for direction 
in all our goings, his kindness and love will endure, 
wliile eternity rolls on. We see in that ever-memora- 
ble sermon on the mount — humility : the noblest trait 
in the christian character. He that humLlelh himself 
shall be exalted — he shall be highest in the rank of the 
disciples of Christ; for the prayers of the humble are 
as sweet incense, and with confidence they can look 
for the abiding of the spirit of tlith. It was a proud 
selfish heart that made the preaching, or tlie Gospel of 
Christ a stumbling block to the Jews, and to the Greeks 
foolishness. 



74 EARLY PIETY. 

Brethren, without this humble frame of mind, we 
will not receive Christ as our righteousness, and the 
author and finisher of our faith. Loneliness and hu- 
mility characterized the dear Redeemer, and the apostle 
Paul exhorts us thus : " Let this mind be in you, which 
was also in Christ Jesus. Behold his love in the gift 
of his ; for God so loved the world that he gave his 
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him 
should not perish, but have everlasting life." Oh! 
what humility appeared in the babe of Bethlehem, 
clothed in human nature; no earthly pomp and gran- 
deur attended him ; no worldly honor attended him ; 
although he descended from a royal family, yet where 
were the guests to announce his birth. All traces of 
the ancient dignity and grandeur of his father David, 
was lost. This little family lived obscure, and made 
but small appearance in the world ; they could not be 
received in the inn, and were driven to seek protection 
with the beasts of the stall. There was no servile at- 
tendance ; no sumptuous preparation made for the 
reception of the prince of peace — the king of the Jews. 
But hark! the winged seraph, robed in the brightness 
of his glory, bares the blessed intelligence to man : 
" Behold, all hail; I bring you tidings of great joy : unto 
you is born, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is 
Christ the Lord." What an example of huinility he 
bore ; he made no outward show ; sought no earthly 
mansion ; sought not his own glory, but the glory of 
him that sent him, ascribing all the glory of his works 
to his father. Truly a pattern of humility to mankind ; 
ready t(» contribute to the wants of the needy, no mat- 
ter how poor and dejected and dishonorable. He 
healed all that came unto him ; regarded even the little 
children with the grAtest affection, and directed his 
disciples to learn a lesson from them, for of such was 
the kingdom of heaven ; and although he ministered to 
his disciples, yet he was their Lord and Master, and in 
the power of the spirit ruled over them, for his king- 



EARLY PIETY. 75 

dom was not of this world, neither did he exercise au- 
thority according to this world, over Jew nor Gentile, 
nor over his own disciples ; but meekly served all, suf- 
fered for ail, that all might have a crown of glory; 
and, having finished his course, and fulfilled his service 
in humility and sufl['ering, is set down at the right hand 
of the Majesty on high, where he now reigns overall 
and is the King immaculate. 

O! brethren in the ministry, what a pattern is here 
set for his I'ollowers to walk by ; the more life you en- 
joy, the more you must minister, and the more faithful 
you must serve, praying the Lord to make way by his 
spirit into the hearts of children and men, and plant 
his*truih in the soul ; all those that humble themselves 
under the mighty hand of the Lord, he will exalt in 
due time, and fill them with his spirit, vn'tue and pow- 
er ; for all such are hio^hly favored and exalted in the 
eye of the Lord. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for 
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'' 

O ! who can tell how great his love is for those that 
are poor and low, and nothing in tlieir own eyes; with 
this spirit, you shall prevail over the powers of dark- 
ness; your authority truly is to hold out the word of 
life, but not to exercise dominion and authority as with 
the ruling powers of the nation ; this spirit cannot 
build up the church of Christ, nor establish his king- 
dom in men's hearts. Shall men usurp authority be- 
cause of their gift, and take upon themselves the reign 
and rule ; shall not the head govern the body ? Truly, 
then, Christ is the head of the church ; and any au- 
thority than Christ's, will root out the virtue and life of 
his kingdom, and make it as the kingdoms of this world ; 
and because men profess to be governed by th^^ light 
of God's spirit, and manifest this aspiring, ruli-ng spir- 
it, which loves to be great in the eyes of men, that 
spirit which exalteth itself: this spirit should be kept 
out of the church, it is not the spirit of lig it, but dark- 
ness, gross darknesso Brethren, this spirit should be 



T6 EARLY PIETY. 

rebuked wherever it makes its appearance, or it will 
s^uin the church, and cause divisions and strife in the 
church ; we may ask, how is this spirit to be kept out 
of the church, and the individual feelings not hurt 
with the church ? 

Brethren, we are to watch over one another in love ; 
and when this spirit begins to arise in any one, rebuke 
it in its first appearance, and present the cross, that he 
may hun)ble himself, and minister to those who are 
little in his eyes ; instead of ruling, let him lie low, 
and know that the light he has is not darkness; for that 
which would rule is to serve ; that which would be great 
in us, is to be little, and the little one is to become a 
great nation. 

O ! let us not think, because of our gift, that we are 
to rule ; nay ! let us be brothers and sisters of the 
same great family ; rather make that proud spirit take 
up the cross, and keep it beneath our feet ; then we 
may be serviceable in the Lord's vineyard, and ad- 
minister his truth in a way that will glorify God. 
Then, beloved friends, if we will but be faithful to 
Christ, we may subdue this aspiring spirit at its 
first appearance, and keep it down ; but, if it is indulg- 
ed and given way lo, it will be hard to conquer ; the 
church sho'^ld watch against such a spirit, testify 
against it at once, put it in its proper place, for he 
that would rule, let him minister ; and, if the individual 
will be faithful there, you may have fellowship with 
him. These, I verily believe, are the teachings of 
Christ. 

Brethren, not that I feel myself capable to instruct 
the heads of the church, but it is in that love that is 
due from me to the church, that induces me to drop 
these few broken and unworthy hints ; for my heart is 
bound to the church with a thousand ties, and I verily 
believe, if this spirit was sufficiently guarded against 
in our church, the lambs of the fold would not so 
often be scattered; for alas! poor drooping hearts, 



EARLY PIETY. 77 

how often do we see after a revival, these little ones 
come together to receive instruction, and to be refresh- 
ed by the milk of the word. 

Christ taught his disciples thus: "Even as the Son 
of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minis- 
ter;" then all must admit, if such spirit should reign^ 
surely Christ had a right to be great; if any was to be 
exalted because of his gift, surely it was Christ, for he 
spake as never man spake ; yet, Christ manifested no 
aspiring spirit, but took upon himself the form of a 
servant. He never lorded over the feelings of his poor 
disciples, though they were poor fishermen, and of 
small appearance in the word ; but he instructed them 
in love — pitied their infirmaties — patiently waiting for 
their judgments to be reformed, and their capacities en- 
larged ; yea, he was satisfied with the honesty of their 
hearts in their present weak state ; for he loved them : 
"For 1 will love them that love me." " What ! can ye 
not watch one hour? the spirit," said he, "is willing, 
but the flesh is weak." What a mild, gentle reproof; 
nay, he did not make use of the power that was given 
him, to extol his name above others, or to use any 
measures to make his word to stand as a law, but that 
his father's will be done, and in all things his name 
be glorified, willing to give his most precious life a 
ransom for many ; thus, by precept and example, hav- 
ing finished his course, fulfilled the law, and made it 
honorable — perfected his sufferings — is sitting at the 
right hand of the Majesty on High, where he ever liveth 
to make intercession for us. " The spirits of the proph- 
ets are subject to the prophets ficre." Here is the true 
spirit that should govern the church ; here is the law 
of rule, with christian meekness, every one feeling a 
measure of that blessed spirit in himself, is taught the 
great lesson of humility, and is meekly subject to 
greater measures of the spirit in others : for he that has 
not this humble spirit, and is not ruled by this spirit, is 
not of God, and consequently is none of Christ's. 



T8 EARLY PIETY. 

Christ's ministers received from him a message of life 
and solvation, and bearing the tidings of peace, nnd the 
love of God to the children of men, teaching the way 
from death to life — from a state of slavish l)ondage to 
perfect liberty — from wrath eternal, to peace and sal- 
vation — what they themselves have witnessed — that 
they proclaim toothers, as they are drawn by the spirit, 
for the spirit operates on the hearts of the children of 
the bridegroom ; they unl'old ti.e truths revealed by 
the spirit; they bear testimony of these truths in the 
j)Ower of the spirit ; they can use every means that 
G:)(i hath appointed to persuade others to come to 
('hrist, praying the spirit to carry the truths home to 
the hearts of sinners, thus watching the souls of men, 
and warning them agamst the eneitiy ; for every one, 
in a state of nature, has indulged in wrong opinions — 
shut his eyes against the light, and denied the Lord 
that taught him ; turning away from the visitations of 
God's spirit, and saying like Felix : "Go thy way for this 
time, at a more convenient season I will call tor thee." 
Instead of receiving the truth, and letting conviction 
do its work — bringing their deeds to the light, and lay- 
ing their case open before God. 

Brethren, we were not redeemed with silver nor gold, 
but a far greater price was paid. *' Neither were angels 
sent to rescue us from ruin, but the Son of God came 
to our relief" Oh, how great was that price that was 
paid for our redemption ! Oh, what love was here ex- 
hibited ! Oh, think of the giver of this great gift. The 
God of the universe gave his only sun, the delight of 
heaven, the glory of angels, and one with the lather. 
Oh ! what humble adoration should flow from our hearts, 
for by him the world was lormed. He spake, and it 
stood fast; he stretched out the heavens — tliey are the 
works of his fingers. Oh ! the love of that compas- 
sionate, rejected, insulted, and much injured Savior — 
the Father's dearest jewel ; yesterday, to-day and lor- 
ever, he stoops from the throne of such glory, to re- 



EARLY I»IETY. 79 

deem a guilty world. No help could be obtained from 
men or angels ; but his own dear arm brought salvation, 
and wiped away the sins of man ; raised that soul dead 
ill trespass, and black with crimes of" the deepest dye. 
His l(^ve for us was ^reat beyond description ; lor all 
things are present before God, and nothing is concealed 
from his eye. He knew what cruel neglect awaited 
his beloved son ; he foresaw what sufferings he would 
endure — [)ers^cutions of the most trying nature — and 
yet his affection, his great attachment, withstood all 
this, and he lover! us before w^e loved him ; yea, while 
we were yet sinners. Brethren, under such consid- 
erations, are you not made to wonder that the <lear 
Jesus, was not hailed welcome, doubly welcome, by lost 
and ruined man ; and thit tha kings of the e irth wo aid 
have offc^red their thrones and resigned the crowns to 
the king of heaven, as but a small and insignificant 
compensation for leaving his Father, and laying aside 
the glory that awaited him there. Is it not a wonder 
that the nations of the earth when the news v^ as pro- 
claimed, that the Savior had made his appearance, that 
all had not joined in a general burst of joy, that would 
have echoed back to heaven, the shouts of ^lory to 
God in the fiighest, peace on earth and good will to 
men. But quite the contrary when H<^rod, the kingr 
heard it, he sought to put this illustrious visitant to 
death ; he had few to admire him and protect him — 
few to love and follow him. Not the great nor the 
noble of the world, but a few poor, despised, persecu- 
ted fishermen ; and he himself not a place where to lay 
his head — without a home. Such was the treatment 
that the King of Glory received by the world ^^e came 
to save ; such was the reception that Christ received. 
Notwithstanding he displayed his healing and saving 
power ; should his boundless goodness, by the many 
miracles which he wrought; but, they w^ould not re- 
ceive his instructions ; but cried, " Away with him — • 
crucify him — crucify him.'' VV^ith what contempt 



80 EARLY PIETY. 

they rejected him, and would rather receive the trash 
of the earth for a ruler, than the blessed Jesus. Yet, 
his compassion and love is beyond description ; its 
length and breadth who can tell — its heigth and depth 
are past finding out — 

" To write the love of God, above. 
Would drain the ocean dry ; 
Nor could a scroll contain the whole 
Tho' stretched from sky to sky." 

It is as vast as eternity ! Had we a scroll to reach 
from pole to pole, and every man had the wisdom of 
Solomon, they could not with words, covey the great- 
ness of God's love to man. If the fountains of the 
great deep were ink, and every drop were used through 
all succeeding ages, they could not solve nor unfold to 
man the riches and greatness of that love. Archan- 
gels in glory cannot tell-^ — nay forever would fail to 
tell — the value of God's love; for "I will love them 
that love me.' If he loved us with such deep interest 
and parental affection while we were yet sinners, what 
love will he bestow upon his humble, faithful believers ! 
O! immortal honors and crowns of glory shall forever 
be theirs! 

Beloved reader, under considerations of such mag- 
nitude, what can we owe him, w^hat have we that such 
love would not deserve? O! reader, how long will 
you refuse to give your heart to him that gave his life 
a ransom for your soul from eternal woe? O! think, 
he has not thus suffered for his friends, but his ene- 
mies ! yea, hell deserving foes ! And shall all this be 
done for you ; shall such streams of mercy and love 
be poured upon you and not melt your heart 1 Refuse 
no longer, for he has purchased your redemption, not 
with silver or gold, but with his most precious blood. 
Then he most assuredly has infinite claims on you; 
claims the most sacred. Can you be so ungrateful for 
such rich mercies ? You are already a monument of 



EARLY PIETY. 81 

his amazing mercy ; his kindness has followed you 
through successive years; dandled you in infancy as 
it was on his affectionate parental knee ; in youth, he 
has blessed you with health ;. in sickness, he has calm- 
ed your fears and rebuked the disease, and preserved 
you for a great aud noble purpose, a purpose of his 
own glory ; and will you deny him your heart, after 
such love as is here exhibited ? O! you have already 
refused to give your heart to him too long; and s-in 
and folly has polluted that blood-bought spirit, and tri- 
umphed in your breast ; leading you off from God 
captive. O' break off your sins by righteousness, and 
your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor! O think 
how many years have already passed and gone, years 
the most useful, if they had but been spent in the ser- 
vice of God, but they are gone and never can be re= 
called. Then I beseech you to refuse not the short 
span that may be allotted you; but give him your 
heart, yourself and all, that when the solemn hour of 
separation from all mortal scenes arrives, you have the 
Saviour's love to cheer the chamber of death, and bear 
your departing spirit to realms of joy. Oh! friendly 
reader, could I lay this importaat subject before you in 
its true character, and convince you of the value of 
that precious soul of yours, 1 would be completely re- 
warded for all my toil. But this I must leave ; and 
pray God, by his spirit, to impress the truth to your 
heart, that you may see your danger before it is for- 
ever too late. You are already on the brink of an aw- 
ful preci[)ice, the horrors of which are indiscribable ! 
O! look to him, he came to save a ruined worlds 
and be is able to save, even to the uttermost, all 
that will come ; the blessed Jesus welcomes all the 
poor, the ignorant, and the most illiterate, to his arms 
of mercy. " Come unto me, all ye that labor and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'' O! blessed 
word, hear it, " He that coraeth unto me, I will in no 
wise cast out." 

6 



82 EARLY PlETYo 

Sister, brother, where is thy heart ; is it still shut 
against God, or do you feel the weight of your eternal 
interest; do you see your ruined state ; do you feel 
the plague of a guilty conscience ? If you do, here 
are promises the most cheering, "Come unto me." 
Come sinner, come gospel slighter, come sahbath 
breaker, the blood of Christ can cleanse from all sins. 
He invites all of every rank and of every class of sin- 
ners, though they be scarlet, ihey can be Eiade white 
as snow. He will guide ycu in youth and support you 
in age, he knows your wants, he w^ill administer com- 
fort, he will hear your prayers, and sympathize with 
your sorrows. " My grace is sufficient for thee." He 
intercedes in his Father's presence for us, and is gone 
to prepare inansions of bliss for all the redeemed ; and, 
having thus loved the world, his love will continue to 
all eternity. O ! may this love lead you to repentance, 
and fill every soul with wonder and gratitude ! O! let 
us lie low at Jesus' feet, and hear his gracious words, 
that we nnay be guided by his council and saved by 
his merits! 



CHAPTER IX. 

A MISTAKEN OPINION OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION. 

Truly it is said of man, that he hath hewn unto him- 
sell cisterns that can hold no water. There is no way 
to inherit eternal he, but by being born of the spirit, 
which breathes life into him and forms him in the 
eternal image. John, iii-8, gives us this record: 
" The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest 
the sound thereof, but canst not te!I whence it cometh 
or wliither it goeth : so is every one that is born of the 
spirit." Then we must admit that this new birth must 
be perfected by the spirit, and men are represented as 
new born babes, w4iich require great care, lest the 
fieshly mind corrupt and destroy this spiritual work, 
and lead the soul into error, or a departing from the 
living God, by turning aside from the true principle 
within, and running after the inventions of men which 
may lead into idolatry. Now when the new birth is 
experienced, satan is ready to make his assault, and 
stir up the sensual and reasoning faculties, and prevent 
an entrance into an established faith. 

Beloved reader, here is the danger^ while you are a 
babe in Christ ; but follow on, look to the standard of 
truth, and wait upon God in the use of his prescrib- 
ed means until your graces increase, and as you have 
received the light of God's truth, so w^alk in it that 
you may experience a srrowth in this new and divine 
Hfe ; for every child that is born of the spirit needs 
nourishment, needs the milk of the word or breast of 
consolation, needs the bread of life to strengthen and 
grow up into men and women in Christ Jesus; they 
need the waters of life to drink, that proceeds from the 



84 THE PLAN OF SALVATION. 

throne of God, that it may be a well of living water 
springing up in them to everlasting life, that they may 
have strength to guard against the assaults of the ene- 
my and shun his snares and temptations ; and as you 
abide in the truth, and watch unto prayer, your deliv- 
erer will be near, his everlasting arm will be under- 
neath, and he will carry on the work of redemption ; 
your faith will increase, so that you can trust and feel 
his delivering power. 

Beloved reader, although you feel sensible of your 
weakness and your want of fresh supplies of grace, 
**' Ask and you shall receive,'' is the encouraging address 
of Christ : though it be ever so humble a petition, a 
groan or a sigh which cannot be uttered, you feel your 
unworthiness so great you cannot express it. Yet it is 
true prayer which will have acceptance with God and 
receive his gracious approbation ; and your minds be- 
come enlightened, and you can see clearly the way 
wherein you ought to walk, discerning the snares that 
the enemy has privily laid for you. And in this time 
of need, the breathings of the soul are to the Friend of 
sinners, the Father of spirits, for preservation in every 
time of distress. Thus it is advised in holy writ, that 
the Christian must pray without ceasing. This prayer 
consists not in any form of words, but is a continual 
breathing, a holy desire after the likeness and image of 
Christ, that his virtue may spring up in us, and con- 
tinue to flow as a living stream into everlasting life. 

But the man that is not born of God cannot enjoy 
these spiritual blessings, because they are spiritually 
discerned ; and on this wise some have deceived them- 
selves, esteemed their own good works as meritorious, 
and set up their own opinions as to this change of 
heart spoken of, boasting that they are as good as 
others; this is plain to discern that this spirit is not of 
Christ — it is only the will of the flesh, or in other 
w^ords the will of man. There is no gift of the true 
spirit received by him, though he may assume a kind 



THE PLAN OP SALVATION. 85 

of belief, yet he has not received any portion of that 
living faith that purifies the heart ; he may make pre- 
tence, and yet his heart not turned from sin ; he will 
tell you he has a hope in the mercy of God, and yet 
far from that repentance which is unto life; therefore 
his mind runs after many inventions, and he sets up a 
way of his own choosing, and thereby grows wise in 
his own estimation, and flatters himself that he is in 
the way to the kingdom of h3aven. O vain and de- 
lusive hope! it will be as the chaff* of the summer- 
threshing floor, and God will say, '-'depart ye workers 
of iniquity, 1 know ye not!'' O! that their under- 
standings were opened that they could receive the 
tf uth, and that there was a true desire after God, from 
tfee sincerity of the heart. 

'' How can ye believe which receive honors one of 
another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God." 
The Apostle John saith, '' Love not the world, neither 
the things that are in the world, if any man love the 
v/orld, the love of the Father is not in him ;" then they 
must " Cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the 
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'* 
2 Cor. vii — 1. If iiideed a man relies altogether in 
his own strength to subdue sin in himself, or perfect- 
ing holiness, we doubt whether he will ever attain it; 
but if he humbleth himself, feeling that convicting pow- 
er beginning the work, he will doubtless obtain the 
blessing to the joy of his own heart ; for the things of 
God are known and held in the minds of those that 
are born of the spirit which is spiritual, and not with 
the natural understanding which cannot receive the 
things of the spirit. 

The blessed Jesus, when he has perfected the work 
of regeneration, cleansed and purified the hearts of 
the children of men, and made them fit for God to 
dwell in, siteth, as a refiner's fire, that he may pre- 
■sent them as Kings and Priests to his Father, to offer 
<!ap an offering in righteousness, that they may reign 



86 THE PLAN OF SALVATION. 

with him in his kingdom, the city of the living God, 
the heavenly Jerusalem, and gain the General Assem- 
bly and Church of the first born, which are written in 
heaven, and mingle in holy rapture with the spirits of 
just men made perfect, and gaze with wonder and de« 
light on the blessed Jesus, the mediator of the new 
and everlasting covenant. 

Beloved reader, let not the tempter deceive you, ye 
must be born again ; the work of the spirit of Christ 
is an inner work, the heart is renewed, the spirit chang- 
ed ; and then the glory of the Father is revealed by 
his eternal love, and he will lead them by living wa- 
ters, and they shall thirst no more : for they shall be 
filled with its virtue, and enjoy the fullness of God. 

Beloved christian, it matters not by what name thou 
art called, keep thyself close to Christ ; he is the spring 
of life, the living virtue, and the true principle flow^s 
from this fountain : for the kingdom of God cometh 
not from observation. The Scribes and Pharisees 
could not understand it by all the light thi^y could 
gather out of Moses and the writings of the Prophets, 
neither can any know^ it from what they can gather 
from the Apostles' writings. But here is the true knowl- 
edge — by being born of the spirit, and established upon 
that rock which the gates of hell cannot prevail against, 
thus we may be secured in the day of storm, which 
will surely come and shake the foundation of every 
building which is not built on this rock. And of those 
that have false notions and stumble at God's living 
truth, and at the saving assurance of his redeeming 
power, almost all christians profess to ow^i Christ as 
the way in words; yet how far they miss it! The 
enemy hath devised some new apprehensions to de- 
ceive them, and keep them from feeling the living pow- 
er and virtue of his truth in the heart. Alas! how 
these poor souls are deceived, w^ho satisfy themselves 
that if they believe that there was a Christ,' and that 
he died for the sins of the w'orld, and advance no fur- 



THE PLAN OF SALVATION. 87 

ther, nor seek to feel that deliverance from sin, but roll 
it as a sweet morsel under tlieir tongue, having no 
knowledge of the power of the trua spirit breaking 
down their spiritual enemies and carnal inclinations, 
and redeeming them from under its power, and yet 
hope to be saved in the end, and presented without 
spot to God. The blessed Saviour had the name Je- 
sus given to him, because he was to save his people 
from their sins ; for, at the name of Jesus, every knee 
shall bow, and every tongue confess, that he is Lord 
of all to the glory of God ; and v/e are informed that 
none can know this, nanie, but by the holy ghost. He 
that has received its virtue, can humbly bow, conscious 
that his lusts are brought under its power; and he can 
worship the Father in spirit and in truth, which is his 
meat and drink. To do his Master's will, then, Christ's 
kingdom is fully set up in the heart ; and the seeds of 
eternal life which God hath hid as an endless treasure, 
from whence he gathereth thirty, sixty, and an hundred 
fold. 

This is the seed Christ likened unto a grain of mus= 
tard seed ; although tfte smallest of all the seeds of a 
garden, became great, immense in value, and as the 
leaven; for it diffused its meliorating nature through 
the whole m.an, spreading its priceless worth through 
every vein. 

The blessed Saviour spoke of the value of this seed 
in different ways ; he compared it to a piece of silver 
wdiich a woman had lost and esteenied as valuable^ 
searching diligently until she found it. 

What a figure is ht-re of our fallen state, we have 
lost the pearl, lost heaven and God ; driven from his 
lonely presence and divine image, into that earthl}/ 
sensual spirit, where we drirdv in iniquity with gredi° 
ness, seeking happiness of our own choosing, but real- 
izing none ! Yet the blessed God, of his infinite mer- 
cy and eternal love, placed this precious pearl within 
the reach of all ; if they will diligently search for it, 



88 THE PLAN OF SALVATION. 

it will make them wise unto salvation, and liven thenni 
into the likeness and image of the blessed Saviour; 
for the Father receiveth none in any way but through 
this Saviour: and the Son likewise receiveth none but 
in that gift which is bestowed from the Father, and 
the Father receiveth no repentance, no sorrow for sin, 
no faith nor obedience, but that which is presented 
humbly through Christ. O how infinitely great is the 
gift of God ! O! that njen knew the value of the pur- 
chase of the blood of Christ, and the spiritual blessings 
received through him, whereby they might be united 
to Christ, and reconciled to God. 

This is the new birth spoken of by Christ: " Marvel 
not that I said unto thee, thou must be born again ;'' 
which means that new nature, the new life, heart and 
spirit, wherein is the fellowship of God felt and em- 
braced. 

Christ told his disciples why it was that they were 
hated — because they were not of the world ; and as 
Christ was not of the world, his errand was to call men 
out of the world, that their heart travail, and their con- 
versation should be not of earthly tiature, but spiritual : 
for, that sinful nature is subdued, and eternal wisdom 
opened. Then is Zion known ; and the Jerusalem 
which is from above; and the spring of eternal life issues 
fresh from the throne of God, and nourisheth that 
heart that pantelh after eternal life ; sin is completely 
destroyed, and everlasting righteousness brought in ; 
and the blood of the covenant runs through the every 
avenue of the soul, and makes it clean ; purgeth out 
the dross, and maketh it pure as the gold tried in 
the fire. Then the will of the creature is subjc^ct to 
the spirit in all its movings and directings, opening to 
the will of the Father, step by step, into the gift of his 
grace, whereby the heart is begotten to God, and 
brought out of darkness into the light of truth; yea, 
redeemed out of spiritual Egypt, and led through the 
wilderness into the land of rest. 



THE PLAN OF SALVATION. 89 

Reader, I entreat thee to bear in nriind, that if any 
man follow not Christ through all his journey through 
the wilderness, or turns aside to the right hand < r the 
left, and fights not the fight of faith, he falls short of 
that rest that remains for the children of God. 

O! that we were awakened and brought to see 
things as they really are ; for religion consists not in 
outward forms, nor shadows that passelh away, but in 
newness of life which abideth forever; for that which 
is born of the spirit is spirit. O how precious to the 
soul to taste of the goodness and free love that the Fa- 
ther hath dropped into the spirits of all believers! 

Alas, how long will the w^orld stand in enmity against 
God ? How long shall the destroyer be permitted to 
prejudice men's hearts against the truths of the Gospel, 
and provoke the wrath of the Lord against them ? For 
truly the spirit of this world is not. subject to the spirit 
of God, nor indeed can be; neither abide the govern- 
ment of Christ; yet the government of Christ is in 
accordance with justice and equity to nation or peo» 
pie. Christ's government, is a righteous government 
of the inv^ard man, and is not opposed to a righteous 
government of the letter of the law or outward man. 
Nay, we think far from it; those who are Christ's sub- 
jects, and obedient to his laws of righteousness in their 
hearts, would be more subject to any .just law or gov- 
ernment, than the unregenerated : for their subjection 
and fidelity is out of love and for conscience sake. 
This is in accordance with the Apostle's teachings : to 
be subject to the higher authorities. He particularly 
alluded, no doubt, to what was just and right between 
man and man, under a righteous law; he spake not of 
that selfish principle that rules in men's hearts, which 
are corrupt, and who make laws in those days of igno- 
rance, according to their own will and wisdom, being 
governed by selfish ends and interest, and not by the 
doctrines of truth. 



90 THE PLAN OF SALVATIONo 

Now that christian that is governed by a ri|];hteoiis 
law, cannot bow to any thing that is idolatry or corrupt 
in man ; nay, sooner would lie be led to the stake, or 
like his diviie master, suffer lono; furrows to be made 
on his back. He cannot gratify the spirit oi" tliis 
world ; for they are called and set apart from the world, 
to be witnesses against the present age, that the excel- 
lency ot the power might be oi Christ holy ; that the 
creature might not rob him or claim any of the glory; 
for God in his wisdom chooseth the meek and foolish 
thino;s of this world, and tliino^s that are not to bring to 
naught things that are. When God sent his message 
to the world, the rich treasures of his knowledge, the 
tidings of reconciliation, he did not choose kings and 
princes, but poor herdsmen and fishermen — weak ves- 
sels we might say in the eyes of the world ; contempt- 
ible persons, for God sees not as man sees, for he looks 
into the heart. Oh, that blessed living principle ; how 
its eternal power and presence is veiled from all that 
look for it in man's planning or wisdom. God hath 
veiled himself from the earthly spirit of man in all its 
wisdom, and in its utmost search after the knowledge 
of, or high pretensions to religion, the wise of the age 
may search in vain, but they, with the natuial eye^ 
cannot discern the path, nor so much as one of his 
footsteps. O! that men had the fear of the Lord be- 
fore their eyes ; and were under the government of the 
spirit ; for whatever is not of God internally and ex- 
ternally, must fall in that awful day of God's power. 
Happy is every one that is willing to resign all at the 
feet of Jesus, and stand on the rock that cannot be 
shaken ; for there will be a mighty earthquake, both 
within and without, and he that hath laid his founda- 
tion on the sand cannot abide ; for there is a mighty 
.change to tak^ place ; for the Lord hatli an arm of 
•power to effect his work that his glory may appear; 
for '* he hath prepared his throne in the heavens, and his 
kingdom ruleth over all.'' — Ps. ciii, 19. He is the Al- 



THE PT.AN OF SALVATION. 91 

mighty creator of all; hisdominion or jurisdiction is from 
pole to pole, and he is lord of all created intelligence ; the 
final cause of all, and ultimate end of al! things; the 
alpha and omega; the beginning and the end ; and for 
Ixis pleasure created he them. His divine attributes: 



II 



Ifve and goodness; fits him for it; for he can never 
use his authority but for the special benefit of his 
creatures. His wisdom cannot err, and his power can 
accomplish what he hath appointed ; for justice and 
mercy hath met together in our behalf, and claims our 
implicit obedience, as he is the sovereign Lord and 
Almighty creator. 

Isa. xl, 9 — -** I am God, and there is none like me.'' 
The Lord is our lawgiver— the Lord is our king, 
James iv, 12 — tells us, " There is one lawgiver who is 
able to save and to destroy ;'* the sole power of making 
laws rests in him, for the power of God appears in the 
moral law. The law of nature was written by his own 
finger, his own finger inscribed the law upon the tables 
of stone, and it is a part of his dominion to dispense 
with his laws, as much as to enjoiti them. The cere- 
monial law given to the Jews required an appeal and 
fell of pourse — Eph. ii, 14. And it is his sovereignty to 
punish the transgressors of his law\ He alone has the 
right to dispense of men's lives, for he keeps the key 
of death; and it is appointed unto man once to, die, but 
after death the judgment; he has given us life, but 
not power to dispose of it, or lay it down at pleasure. 
He holds us strictly accountable for the way we apply 
it. Men natundly desire to be at liberty, and set at 
naught the council of God, and become slaves under 
the dominion of their own lusts, regardless of that pun- 
ishment which awaits those that rebel against God ; 
punishment due their crimes is unavoidable. None 
can escape his wrath. 

But, dear reader, think for a moment God doth not 
inflict punishment but of necessity, when he can delay 
nm longer. He takes no pleasure in it ; his will is that 



92 THE PLAN OF SALVATION. 

all should repent. Oh, how long has his anger been 
staid. He has given us great mercies, even after we 
have provoked and rejected them, and are still rushing 
into sin, and drinking in iniquity like water. Oh, his 
mercy how great, how slow to an^er. He knows th^ 
value of the soul ; for he not only died to redeem it, bui 
daily knocks for admittance, with unwearied patience, 
that he may save it. Oh, how numberless are the 
mercies that we daily receive from him: enough to 
fill every heart with wonder and gratitude, and con- 
strain us to yield up our bodies, souls, and spirits unto 
him, which is only our reasonable service ; for Oh, 
what is due him for the blessed gift of Jesus, our too 
often neglected and forgotten Saviour, who stooped 
from realms of bliss to save a sinking w^orld, and bring 
the children of men to glory and to God ; wash away 
their stain by his atoning blood, and to him is due frooTi 
every tongue eternal praise. Amen, 



CHAPTER X. 

GOD INVITP^S THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 

COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY 
LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Mat. xi, 28. 

O! that every soul of man may hear this pressing 
and sweet invitation. When I meditate on it, my 
heart expands with breathings of spirit, that those that 
labor may find this rest to their souls, spoken of in the 
Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation. 

My dear reader, do not be angry with me nor re- 
proach me with enthusiasm ; my life is fast declining, 
and this flitting pulse tells me my days are few. Then 
suffer me, as one that loves you, with ardent regard 
for your soul's peace, to speak freely ; as the Lord lives, 
in whose name I entreat you, hearken to the invitation 
given ; it is the doctrine of the kingdom, wherein is 
life, joy, peace and eternal happiness to the soul, if you 
come to Christ with all your guilt and all your burthen. 
Oh, dear reader, let nothing enter into your heart to 
prevent you from coming to Christ for salvation. 
What are we without him ? 1 am the bread of life 
saith Christ ; and Ob, sister, brother, shall he say that 
we will not come unto him, that w^e may have life, 
when it is offered so freely — only for asking? Shall 
we not ask for eternal life, and come and receive it at 
his blessed hand, when it is a free gift. 

The law presented a shadow of the good things to 
come, which was the blessed Uedeemer, and his salva- 
tion. But under it was not the possession of the good 
things themNclves, but only a laboring after them, and 
a mourniiig and heaviness of spirit, because of the 



94 GOD INVITES THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 

want of them : but here Christ, in this solicitation offers 
the substance, the realization, the enjoyment; that life 
and immortality that was brought to light through the 
Gospel of his dear son. O! sister, niay God by his 
spirit draw you near to Christ. Make the best use of 
every opportunity, for now is the day of salvation : the 
kingdom of heaven is at hand, offered to you, dear 
reader, even now, saith the spirit ; and in it is righteous- 
ness, and peace, and joy in believing, for God hath 
promised that his believing ones should enjoy the peace 
his Gospel offen. He will remove their burthen, and 
their souls shall find rest. *' Take my yoke upon you, 
and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and 
ye shall find rest to your souls/' You shall feel and 
enjoy the pure spiritual power of that new birth, that 
life Irom dead works; feel your broken sin-sick heart 
heart bound up, and the droppings of the oil of grace 
upon the wound. O, may God of his infinite mercy 
give us to feel the power of his grace. 

Christ hath plainly marked out the way of life by 
his finger, he hath pointed us to the path of peace, he 
hath made the way so plain in the gospel that the way- 
faring man, though a fool, by the light that shines 
through this gospel, cannot err therein, or miss the 
mark made by the precious blood of Christ. *' Come 
unto me, and learn of me ; you may walk in this path 
and not miss your way ; for he that will come unto 
me, I will in no way cast off.'' 

The true faith that is received by the new birth will 
enable you to stand in the power of the spirit, w^hicb 
faith is the substance of things hoped for; and brings 
peace and joy in believing, defies the powers of dark- 
ness, and watches against spiritual wickedness in high 
places ; so that neither affliction, distress nor persecu- 
tion, could mar their peace, but count it all joy when 
they fall into manifold temptations; thus possessing 
their souls in humble patience, until they have an en- 
trance into the everlasting kingdom. 



GOD INVITES THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 95 

"My yoke is easy/' This divine life, this strength 
of the spirit, subdues every evil desire, and brings 
peace to the soul ; the load of guilt really removed, 
and a true sense of the presence of the Lord, by his 
spirit, bringing that sweet touch of life which issues 
from the wells of salvation. 

O ! Sister, will your bear this invitation ! behold the 
riches of his grace, the value and worth of the promo 
ises of God, they can give relief in a painful hour; 
this is the quickening virtue, the day-spring from oa 
high ; his spirit breathing upon you, let us obtain this 
heavenly grace. 

*' Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that 
leads unto life, and few there be that find it.'* Unbe- 
lief blocks up the path or work of redemption through 
Christ; it darkens the understanding, and the individ- 
ual has not a right perception of the word of God; 
he views it as a cunningly devised fable, or doubting 
uncertainty of mind, about the truths of the irospeL 
O! what a daring crime is unbelief! how insulting to 
the blessed trinity, to disregard the love of God, in the 
gift of his son ; and stamp upon the precious blood of 
the redeemer, as if it were an unholy thing. Unbelief 
has no true perception of faith, and its blessed effects ; 
here he misses the yoke in his self-will and se!f=wisdom, 
which is required to enter the narrow road that leads 
to lile ; thus a man may so read and so hear, and al- 
ways learning, and never able to come to the knowL 
edge of the truth, as it is in Jesus. Every sin sepa» 
rates the sinner farther from God ; and if so, how can 
he escape eternal death ? The Omnipotent eye beholds 
every wrong, and his spirit will not always bear with 
our rejection ; the terrible sentence has been uttered 
from the Divine lip. O! hear it. "He that believ» 
eth not, shall be damned!'* 

Before we can have breathing desires after God, or 
that true repentance far sin that needeth not to be re- 
pented of, we must see ourselves as we truly are, ex- 



96 GOD INVITES THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 

posed to eternal death ; and be willing to be led by 
him into the way : for God hath cast up a way for his 
people which is a holy way, and none can ever enjoy 
the favor of God, but those that walk in that holy and 
living path which the scriptures testify of — guarding 
against the power of darkness; for they are continu- 
ally at hand; for if we are from under the shadow of 
His mighty power, or step out of this holy way, we 
are liable to the snares and temptations of the enemy. 
O! how necessary it is that we should watch every 
step, every spiritual motion, that we take not the 
shadow for the substance, and thereby be led from the 
true wisdom or faith. 

O brethren! how sweet, and yet how humbling is it 
to feel God beginning his work in that obedient heart 
that is waiting on him for more spiritual light, that the 
understanding may be clear, and the rough things 
made smooth ; for the Lord is nigh to the distressed 
and humble in heart, and will reveal his will to his 
faithful servant, by a small still voice, as he spake to 
Elijah ; or he will whisper in the soul, as he did by his 
spirit to Philip, when he spake to him to join Enoch's 
Chariot. O ! it is enough for us to know that we are 
called by God to his great work, could we be faithful 
as Abraham. God said " Abraham,'' and Abraham 
said, "behold here am I:" he knew the voice of his 
beloved, for he was united to him by faith in Jesus 
Christ. 

O! that the unregenerate knew what it is to feel the 
abiding of God's spirit, and what it is to have fellow- 
ship with him ; they would not say the yoke is too hard 
we cannot wear it, but they would count it all joy to 
be termed fools lor Christ's sake. 

O! sinner, think of your ingratitude to God, and 
your want of love to him; his goodness should lead 
you to repentance. How can you be so impenitent as 
to despise the riches of his goodness ; how can you 
tempt him in his long forbearance, and treasure up 



GOD INVITES THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 97 

wrath against the day of wrath ? Shall man, the no- 
blest being of God's creation, made in his image, be 
more insensible than the beast? For '^Theoxknow- 
eth his owner,'' and is subject to the yoke, and " the 
Ass his master's crib, but Israel doth not know, my 
people do not consider." They do not know God, nor 
inquire what their duty is, nor the obligations they are 
under to him, for so many mercies. O! sinner, heark- 
en to the word of God : " Hear, O heavens ! and give 
ear, O earth ! for the Lord hath spoken : I have nour- 
ished and brought up children, and they have rebelled 
against me." Ye have turned your back against God, 
and declare in effect, or say in your hearts, depart from 
us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. Do 
you not vainly inquire in your hearts, what is the Al- 
mighty that we should serve him, and what profit shall 
we have if we pray unto him ? 

How intent you are to entice and distill this poison- 
ous sin into others, and lead them into your vicious 
habits. God is angry with you every day. O! how 
long will his anger be stayed ; for " Vengeance is mine 
saith the Lord, for I will repay." All our sorrows are 
proofs of his anger. The miseries of human life, the 
terrors and agonies of death, are proofs of God's an- 
ger against sin ; you may make light of sin now, but 
it is an awful burthen, too intolerable to be borne ; if 
you still cleave to it, you will most assuredly feel its 
weight in another world. O ! come to Christ, and he 
will relieve you of your awful burthen. 

"Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy 
laden," weary of gilt and sin, and laden with iniquity, 
"and I will give you rest." Sin is an awful disease; 
it corrupts the whole body. " From the sole of the foot 
to the crown of the head there is no soundness, but 
wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores." The whole 
man is intolerably loathsome in the sight of God ; the 
wounds that sin has made have not been bound up nor 
mollified with ointment. What an awful picture is 

7 



98 GOD INVITES THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 

man in his sins, and blinded in iniquity, and sees not 
his state, nor heeds his danger! 

O! sinner, at the peril of my soul, I am bound to 
declare to you your danger, and tell you that God will 
punish the wicked with everlasting destruction. Al- 
though you may be unwilling to hear it, and loth to 
own your true condition, for heaven's sake dont shut 
your eyes against the light that teaches you your 
deeds of darkness. O ! don't sew fig leaves together 
to cover your sins, nor love that darkness which con- 
ceals them ; do not be angry with me because I tell 
you your destined fate : the gospel holds out the reme- 
dy with its blessed effects, and points us to the only 
physician that can cure and make us whole. How of- 
ten have you felt the plague of your own heart, felt 
condemned for sin, and made to cry to God for mercy ! 
Well may you dread that awful sentence, '' Depart 
ye cursed !" 

How can you longer deny your lost condition, or 
stay away from Christ your redeemer ! Behold his 
love, in the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ 
our Lord ! Then receive him as your Redeemer, that 
you may be freed from the bondage of sin. O sinner, 
look with wonder at the astonish'ng gVace of God ! 
What might you not justly expect lor your ingrati- 
tude, rebellion, and outbreaking sins, but the sen- 
tence, " Depart ye cursed :" 1 ut O, amazing love ! 
*' Come now, and let us reason together ; though your 
sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Mer- 
cy is offered, and terms of reconciliation proposed. 
" Wash ye, make ye clean ; put away the evil of your 
doings from before mine eyes: cease to do evil and 
learn to do well." God is willing to show mercy, even 
to the vilest offender; then approach him; mercy has 
interceded for you! O, accept of all the divine ar- 
rangements to save sinners ! Shall I address you in 
the language that was spoken to Lot : " Escape for 
your life, neither look behind you, for if you still con- 



GOD INVITES THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 99 

tinue in your acts of disobedience, your damnation h 
just ; but if you break off your sins by righteousness, 
you shall find mercy." 

My dear friend, calculate what you would take for 
your life ; how much you would give for it in a peril- 
ous hour for your safe deliverance. Yea, all that a 
man hath will he not give for his life! But, O reflect 
is this present life, all our present state of existence, 
all that we should look to : the life of the body, which 
is but momentary and must shortly end. Verily, there 
is an undying principle in man ; a precious soul, which 
must live forever in the enjoyment of the lavor of 
God, or sink beneath his frown to all eternity. 

Christ saith : " Fear not man who can kill the body, 
but rather fear him that hath power to destroy both 
soul and body in hell/' — Mat. x c. 28 v. 

Oh ! who can endure his wrath in the day of judg- 
ment ! " Can thine heart endure, or can thine hand be 
strong in the day, that I shall deal with thee ?" Be 
persuaded then, to redeem the precious moments as 
they pass by, and catch every privilege to secure thy 
eternal peace. 

Oh ! Sir, how reasr nable it is, for men to desire to 
advance in the world ; to increase in wealth, and pro- 
vide for a day of need : how all-important then is it 
to provide for a dying hour, " For ye know not the day 
nor the houf when the Son of Man cometh !" It is 
wisdom to make Christ your friend, that he may be 
your advocate with the Father, and present you spot- 
less before him and the holy angels. 

We must give God our hearts unreservedly. " Son 
give me thy heart." Here is the true principle ; this 
is religion that will bear the trial. Is it reasonable, think 
you, to give all to Christ, and love him above all other 
beings ? If we love him, we will not fear to take him 
at his word, and rely on him as our benefactor. 

The motive of Christ was to seek and to save that 
which was lost ; to procure our pardon as lost sinners 



100 GOD INVITES THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 

was his grand business upon earth. He took human 
riature upon him, that he might redeem us from sin, 
and die the just for the unjust, that he might bring us 
to God. 

The gospel points us to Christ, that w^e may obtain 
the forgiveness of our sins, for he saith, '' Seek me while 
I may be found, and call on me while I am near.'' 
This is the blessing that a renewed soul pants after, 
and ardently prays for, for '' Who is like unto thee, that 
pardoneth iniquity.'' The redeemed adore the Lamb 
that was slain, and washed them in his own blood ; 
thus we are pardoned by the free mercy of God's sov- 
reign grace, without any merit of the creature. 

" The Lord is merciful and gracious : long suffering, 
and abo' nding in goodness and truth; keeping mercy 
for thousands ; forgiving iniquities transgressions and 
sin." We need not sup})Ose the moralists will be saved, 
because they have not sinned so much as others, for 
great sinners may find pardon and acceptance through 
Christ's blood. Nor can those w^ho term themselves 
little sinners, lay any claim on Christ for pardon : noth- 
ing that we can do, nothing that we can claim like 
merit, but what must be abandoned, and every mouth 
stopped, for all the world must plead guilty, and all that 
are saved must acknowledge, that God, " for his own 
name-sake alone, pardons the sins of the children of 
men." In the pardon of our sins, justice must be con- 
sidered as well as mercy. " If God had winked at the 
transgressor, and let the guilty go unmolested or un- 
punished, without satisfaction, what provision would 
have been made for the honor of his holiness, justice 
or truth. He would have appealed no more than an 
earthly monarch, who had little or no conscience for 
the moral government of the world ; but God's truth 
was engaged to see his threatnings against sin fulfilled. 

" Mercy and truth have met together ; righteousness 
and peace have embraced each other," and God is just 
and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus Christ, 



GOD INVITES THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 101 

liavingpaid the debt of sin, which we justly owe ; herein 
is he the believer's friend, forgiving our sins and cleans- 
ing us from all unrighteousness. 

The man that is convinced of sin, or in other words 
willing to be convinced, and desirous to find the way 
of peace, will hear the Gospel ; will give all heed ; he 
is not absent fiom Church ; he longs to hear that there 
is forgiveness with God ; it is balm to his soul to hear 
that Christ is willing and able to save sinners. Oh ! 
he begins to inquire, can the blood of Christ cleanse 
all my scarlet sins ; can his righteousness cover all my 
guilt ? Faith takes hold : he assents to the truths he 
hears ; he relies on the promises, and is filled with joy 
and peace in believing. Now, dear reader, think of 
the miraculous perfection of this pardon — change our 
scarlet sins, or in other words, our scarlet hearts. He 
does not change the nature of sin,.or diminish the evil 
of it ; but changes the man that believeth ; makes him 
a new creature : as he was a lover of sin he now hates 
it. The things he once loved now he hates, and those 
he hated he now loves. He loves the Church ; he loves 
God, and delights in his word ; and although he had 
drunk in sin with greediness, completely deluged in it, 
he now is as free from it as if he had never sinned at 
all. Christ's blood has made his crimson heart as 
white as snow. Oh ! the mighty power and love of 
our redeemer. Oh ! sinner, think of the nature of your 
sins ; think of their damning effects ; do not vainly 
conclude that they are small sins, and perhaps God will 
overlook them : you may perhaps forget them ; but Oh ! 
never, no never, will God forget them ; and if you do 
not seek for pardon, they will be brought into judgment, 
for "the wages of hin is death." 

If you transgress the moral law, its curse is against 
you ; you must abide its penalty, and if not pardoned 
you must be punished ; and it you believe not in Christ 
you are condemned already. Notwithstanding Christ 
has died, and God is merciful, if you avail not yourself 



102 GOD INVITES THE WORLD TO BE SAVED. 

of the benefits of his atonement, and stay away from 
him, and remain in a state of ignorance and unbeHef ; it 
will avail you nothing. God's word saith, *' He that be- 
lieveth not shall be damned ;'' for how shall you escape 
if you neglect so great salvation. Oh ! think of these 
solemn truths before it be too late, and your damnation 
is sealed. Oh ! how can you be so unwise as to neglect 
your soul's peace ? How can you eat and drink and 
be merry, and your soul unpardoned ? How can you 
sleep, and not fear waking up in hell ? 

No longer stay away and abuse such offers of mer- 
cy, for the patience of God has long been stayed. Oh ! 
make your escape from a yawning hell ; instantly fly 
to the refuge, oh ! ye prisoners ol hope, before the 
door is shut ; God in his mercy will pardon the vilest 
sinners that come to him by Jesus Christ. Amen. 



CHAPTER XI. 

WAITING ON THE LORD IN SINGLENESS OF SPIRIT. 

The worship of God is an humbling and weighty 
consideration, on account of the danger of falling into 
erroneous ideas, for there are many errors with regard 
to this solemn duty, which are not only dangerous, as 
regards our peace and happiness in life, but our everlast- 
ing peace in the world oi" bliss. 

This is a subject that has awakened the most anxious 
inquiry of my heart, and the deepest travail of spirit : 
prayerfully waiting on God for the right knowledge c/f 
his truth. I was born, as I might say, within the pale 
of the Quaker church ; had a birthright in Society, 
and all the privileges attached thereto; I w^as brought 
up under pious parents and had many serious impres- 
sions, even from a child, but never professed to experi- 
ence a change of heart until after I was married, and 
being united to a man who w^as not a member of the 
church, I was dissolved from their fellowship, which 
was according to their discipline. 1 had imbibed strong 
prejudices of education with regard to this subject, 
which is the worship of God, and thought singing 
could not be acceptable worship in the Divine sight, so 
that when I went to Methodist meetings, my heart was 
troubled, and in humility of spirit I desired to lie low 
at his feet, and be led by him in the path of duty. 
Weeks and months passed by and still my poor soul 
found no relief, being exercised with the impression 
that God required something at my hand, more than to 
be a private member of the church ; the awful danger of 
which exercise I could not shake off,and in fear and trem- 
bling, I often plead my weakness and fears, lest I should 



104 WAITING ON THE LORD. 

bring a reproach to the cause of truth. I could see no 
fitness in me to perform services that would be accept- 
able and blessed bv the Great Head of the church. I 
had a very limited education, and large family concerns 
to attend to, which occupied all my time ; though it 
seemed right that I should attach myself to some church. 
I loved the Methodist doctrine, but the church ordi- 
nances I could not fully fellowship — Baptism, and the 
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper — and to offer myself 
to the Friends church, there were difficulties that I for- 
bear to mention. Thus I travailed in deep humility of 
spirit for many months : I thought I could enjoy reli- 
gion with the Methodists, if it was not for singing. I 
often prayed with fervency of soul to God, that this 
difficulty might be removed, and that I might feel his 
blessed spirit in this part of divine worship ; and be- 
lieving that the blessed Master, would in due time 
manifest himself, and make an opening for my poor 
waiting heart, sometimes 1 would give way to doubts, 
and fear ; there was no way for me ; my path seemed 
dark and much blocked up ; but I still resolved to re- 
new my diligence ; and spread all my wants before Him 
w^ho is the giver of every blessing, and being ardently 
engaged in prayer, I thought I heard music, the most 
sublime, and the sweetest tune that ever fell on any 
human ear. It seemed to start from my right side and 
passed round me to the left, and the sound gradually 
died away, and at the same time I felt an overwhelm- 
ing flow of divine love. I cried out, almost insensible 
ot my position. Lord it is enough ! I could hardly 
compose myself, and be reconciled to wait until church 
day that I might hear the songs of Zion sung in the 
sanctuary of the Lord : '' Praise the Lord, O my soul, 
for his goodness : he maketh a way when there seem- 
eth to be no way; he maketh the rough ways smooth, 
and the crooked straight.'' 

Dear sister, art thou a motherless orphan, cast upon 
the charity of a cold and selfish world ? Oh ! how my 



WAITING ON THE LORD. lOb 

heart sympathises with you ; it was my lot to be one 
of this number. My mother died when I was about ten 
years old ; at the very period when a mother's instruc- 
tion is most needed to check the childish errors, and 
restrain me from evil, which is of infinite importance 
at this period of life. But when I reflect on gone by 
days, and the many blessed lectures my dear mother 
gave me, though a child, yet they made a deep impres- 
sion on my mind, which neither time nor situation in 
life can ever erase ; and as I grew up I had many seri- 
ous impressions, and a desire to become religious. I 
was a constant attendant on meetings, and even now 
the remembrance of the great love and tender care of 
the Shepherd and Bishop of Souls, who sleepeth not by 
day, nor slumbereth by night, reproved and watched 
over me from infancy to the present time. Oh, it is 
cause of deep reverence and humility of soul, for God 
hath succored me in my pilgrimage, and in my trying 
and proving seasons ; and borne up my head, as above 
the mighty waters, though the waves have almost 
overwhelmed me. Oh ! my soul, mayest thou never 
forget the unspeakable goodness of the Lord, but w^alk 
humbly before him, in the way of his requirings. 

And for the encouragement of you, dear reader, who 
may be alike tried in spirit ; and feel the weight and 
concern of the ministry resting upon your minds : this 
continued to follow me; but Oh, I saw myself so un- 
w^orthy, ignorant and illiterate, and the work so awful- 
ly great, that I shrank from it for months ; and another 
embarrassment greatly depressed my spirits ; it w as un- 
common for a woman to appear in public, of the Meth- 
odist order. Oh ! the fears that kept me back, and the 
bitter cups that it occasioned. I believe they would 
never have been my portion, had I meekly submitted 
to the exercise of my mind. 

On one occasion, going to church all alone, and 
meditating on this great work, these words came into 
my mind, with such weight and distinctness, that at 



106 WAITING ON THE LORD. 

the first impulse, I thought some one had spoken to 
me : " Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a 
trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and 
the house of Jacob their sins/' I stopped my horse 
instantly, and the most solemn feeling came over me* 
It appeared to me that my very hair stood on end, and 
I reasoned with myself, whether 1 should go to church 
or turn back home again. I feared I should feel this 
awful weight at church, and I should become a re- 
proach to the cause of truth. At length my mind be- 
came calm, and I went on to meeting ; but the services of 
the meeting were almost over ; I little thought that I had 
stopped so long, but 1 felt nothing of this exercise of 
soul while there ; but my mind became covered in dark- 
ness, and O the many trials I underwent, the Lord 
alone knows, but my supplication being fervent to him 
for preservation, he was mercitully pleased to hear my 
cry, and speak peace to my troubled soul. I resolved 
through his grace, that if ever I felt the moving of the 
blessed spirit, in any requirement whatever, whatever 
might be the result, I would submit, let the world say 
w^hat it might of me. 

Some time after, I was at circuit preaching. I felt 
the spirit of prayer, and asked brother Alston Gray if I 
might pray publicly, w^hich he permitted, and I was 
sweetly comforted, when I found I was not rejected by 
the preacher. It was strength to my poor drooping heart, 
and I was sweetly comforted with the presence of my 
Redeemer, and I was enabled to perform the little ser- 
vices he required of me. O my soul, mayest thou ever 
fear to walk humbly before himj who is the God of 
Israel and the deliverer of those that put their trust in 
him O, let us be willing to do whatever our hands 
find to do. 

Sister, do you come up to the help of the Lord ? 
Moses' sisters helped him, and he prevailed; warn 
sinners of their awful danger, and fear not to speak 
to the careless, and to those that are in darkness, 



VVAITIXG ON THE LORD. 107 

and in the shadow of death, and your labor will not 
be in vain in the Lord, for his word will run and 
be glorified ; it will grow and spread though the world 
oppose it. 

There are traits in the christian character that be- 
.*-peak a soul that has tasted the powers of the world 
to come. 

O! remember, dear reader, without holiness no man 
shall see the Lord, nor taste of those comforts that 
they enjoy, whose lives are hid with Christ in God, 
and stand fast in the liberty, w^herewith Christ has 
made them free. Language must fail to express the 
peace of mind that those enjoj , who thus live to God, 
and are holy in heart and life. 

Should w^e not be willing to bear the cross for Him 
that bore our sins on his own bodv on the tree ; mav 
this consideration excite us to duty, and stimulate us 
to follow him without the camp, bearing his reproach, 
esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than 
the honors of the world. Oh! may you endure as 
seeing him who is invisible, and may a double portion 
of Elijah's God rest upon you ; and as Abel, may you 
offer that sacrifice which is acceptable in the sight of 
God, and may you as Enoch, walk with God while 
here on earth, nor feel the sting of death, but be borne 
upon the wings of love to realms of glory 

Godliness is profitable for all things having the prom- 
ise of the life that now is, and that which is to come ; 
for it is not those that say Lord, Lord, that are to enter 
the kingdom, but the humble devoted worshipers of 
God, under the gospel dispensation — not the sacrifices 
of kids or goats, but that of the heart. G(3d in every 
age of the world has had a chosen people to worship 
him, for man is endowed with a capacity to be a true 
worshiper of God, and under the gospel or new testa- 
ment the man that is born of the spirit is the true wor- 
shiper, for they that worship God must worship him in 
spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to wor- 



108 WAITING OS THE LORD. 

ship him ; yea, those that are called from darkness to 
light, from the power of satan unto God, and formed 
anew by the power of God's spirit — he that is a Jew 
inwardly, and circumcised in heart, these are those 
whom the Father seeketh to worship him. 

The Jews were rejected for unbelief, cut off from 
the covenant, nor did God choose any particular nation 
instead thereof; but he sent his apostles and ministers 
with a special charge, *•' Go ye into all the world and 
preach my gospel to every creature,'' that they might 
gather a spiritual people instead of the Jews, which 
would offer a spiritual worship ; for when the children 
of God meet together, a solemn covering overspreads 
the mind, and the sanctuary appears spiritual ; and the 
breathings of the heart are spiritual, not outward as un- 
der the law, but retiring in spirit, gathering the mind 
from all things below, retiring inward, and seek in spir- 
it after the living principle ; desiring humbly to offer a 
living sacrifice that may be acceptable ; waiting in 
humility to receive the spiritual bread and w^ater from 
him, that they may feed in the rich pastures of his 
infinite fullness. This is the spiritual house, the build- 
ing w^hich God hath reared up in our hearts by his 
spirit, making a living temple which is built by God, 
wherein he may dwell ; for he lives and abides in the 
hearts of his people. We cannot bring any thing of 
our own to the altar, nothing of man's wisdom nor in- 
vention, nothing pleasing to human nature can be of- 
fered here, or be acceptable in his eyes, it must be a 
spiritual offering ; for the great God is there, and 
he breaks the living bread to their hearts, w^iich is 
precious indeed, and strengthening in this spiritual ex- 
ercise ; these are gifts given to us by the Father of ali 
our mercies. 

Brethren, search the scriptures for direction : we 
need not go to Jerusalem, nor to Samaria, nor to the 
mountains where the fathers worshiped ; but to Mount 
Zion, where the Lamb without spot is known, and the 



WAITING ON THE LORD. 109 

blooJ of sprinkling felt. Glorious indeed is the pre- 
sence of God, it is exceeding precious to the soul ; 
sweet is the music of his voice, and strengthening is 
his power when felt in the heart ; for it is life eternal 
to know God, and worship hinri in spirit. O ! brethren, 
guard against the enemy of souls, nor let him entice 
you away from Christ, nor chea*: you out of the pre- 
cious things of the kingdom ; do not be satisfied with 
mere forms, which is but dry and husky food, and can- 
not nourish the immortal part — his is the anti-Christ — 
to set up a formal way of worship, and, by it, to fight 
against the true i)rincipal; formal ways of worship 
will still continue through succeeding generations, un- 
til anti*Christ comes to an end, and the Lord destr )ys 
him by the brightness of his coming! He has begun 
this great work and will carry it on ; for the Lord hath 
already broke down this anti-christian spirit in malny 
hearts, and the stroke will become universal ; and 
the nations of the earth shall tumble before him. O, 
how many formal worshipers will be brought to atiy 
outward duty ; but to the inward principle of religion 
they will never seek ; they can talk of heavenly things, 
and manifest a desire to be esteemed among the truly 
pious, but you can never bring them to a spiritual duty, 
to lay all they have and are at the feet of Christ : they 
seldom speak of the plan of redemption by Christ with 
that humility that glows wdth the spirit, and burns on 
the heart ; which shows that their religion dwells only 
in the head, and is a stranger to the heart. Let per- 
secution arise, and where is his religion ? Carried 
away by the wind of temptation, as a feather before 
the breeze, because his heart is not established on 
Christ, the true rock. 

The spirit of anti-Christ never bew^ails his own im- 
perfections, nor acknowledges his unfaithfulness to 
Christ, but endeavors to take comfort from outward 
forms, and thereby chokes the gospel promises with 
worldly desires, although convinced that they must be 



110 WAITING ON THE LORD. 

religious or they cannot enter the kingdom ; therefore, 
they will comply with certain forms, will read and 
pray, yet they hold fast to temporal things. 

His judgment admits that God is the giver of every 
blessing; but his heart was never humbled under a sense 
of his goodness, nor have his affections ever acceded 
thereto ; for the world had more of his heart than God. 
O ! why should we make a trifle of our eternal state ; 
for without this inward work, regeneration, faitli and 
holiness, we can never have life. 

O ! reader, look into thy own heart : the greatest 
uty that thou hast to do in life, is to prepare for death, 
and press forward towards the mark of the high call- 
ing of God in Christ Jesus, reaching to those things 
that are before ; get into this spiritual exercise, that 
thy conscience and the blessed spirit may witness your 
secret cries and groanings of spirit. What is there of 
greater moment, or so necessary, as that of having the 
heart right before God ; it is impossible for that which 
is ilhclean to enter the kingdom. Can we be too much 
affected with things of such moment; can we desire 
them too earnestly ? Of all things, our prayer and de- 
sire should be to glorify God, the salvation of our own 
and other's souls, which God will give without our 
merit — }et we must earnestly seek after it, and apply 
our hearts to the work. 

Time is fast rolling on, a few fleeting days, and we 
are no more. I am now writing, and you are reading, 
but w^e must shortly be shrouded for the tomb, and lie 
in the dust, to mingle with our mother earth ; " jor dust 
thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.'' How ac- 
tive and industrious should we be, who know not the 
day nor the hour that we shall be called to give an ac- 
count of our stewardship, and we have much yet to 
do, and but a short space to do it in, and the moments 
that are gone are gone forever ; time, though misspent, 
can never be recalled. 



WAITING ON THE LORD. Ill 

St. Paul resolved to know nothing but Christ and him 
crucified. Although this knowledge was a stumbling 
block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greeks, yet 
Paul knew it to be the power of God to salvation. He 
was made sensible that it was no less than life eternal 
to worship him in his spirit. Dear reader, art thou of 
a luke-warm spirit, professing to enjoy religion, but 
cannot see the necessity of this spiritual work ? Oh ! 
think, by the neglect of this duty, you may loose the 
enjoyment of the smiles of God, and at length sink 
into endless woe, because you are content to be almost 
and not altogether a christian. But Oh ! that blessed 
state, that heaven of eternal joys, that awaits those 
that love Him and worship Him in spirit and in truth, 
the way is laid open for such as these, into the holy of 
holies by his most precious blood. O ! may God im- 
press our minds w^ith an anxious desire to be led by 
him in all our goings, that we may not on a dying bed 
accuse ourselves of negligence in this great duty ; that 
we may have joy in the Lord, which joy is unknown 
to those that are strangers to God, for it is a joy that 
cannot be taken away. This is w^hat makes the believ- 
er blessed — makes him happy — is religion in the heart, 
and though we may be persecuted like Paul, the love 
of Christ will make us happy. Will you, dear reader, 
listen to my humble persuasions; will you give these 
words a place in your heart, and receive the blessed 
Jesus as your all, or w^ill you refuse ? If you do, may 
the blessed God follow you by his spirit, and may my 
exhortation still sound in your ears ; escape for your 
lifB, ere remorse and dispair seize upon you, and the lash- 
es of a guilty conscience will sting you with inexpres- 
sible sorrow. Seek no longer happiness in the things 
of time and sense, but seek the kingdom, and lay up 
your treasure in heaven, and humble yourself at the 
feet ol Jesus, that he may teach you what to choose 
and what to shun, that you may count all things lost, 
that you may win Christ. Remember, the joys of 



112 WAITING ON THE LORD. 

heaven will compensate for all the sorrows that await us 
here. Then let us not fear to tread the thorny way of 
persecution, but wait on God in spirit and humility 
of soul, that we may be heirs of the promises, counting 
no sufferings too heavy to endure for him that bore our 
sins upon Calvary. Reflect for a moment on the bless- 
ings that rest on the humble and pure in heart. O! 
come and sit at Jesus' feet and hear his gracious words, 
that he may see in you the travail of his soul ; and be- 
hold a child whose heart is weaned from earth, and has 
treasure in heaven. O ! refuse him not that heart of 
thine, nor the few years you may have to spend on 
earth ; reflect on what he has done for you ; think of 
the glory he leit, that he had with the Father; fol- ' 
low him to the manger, and to the sufferings of the 
cross; the painful sufferings he endured; never was 
sorrow like his, and all to save you from the wrath of 
God, and make you heirs of his Father's throne ; can 
you love him too much : by giving your heart to him 
H will not recompense him for his sufferings. 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE PATH OF REDEMPTION. 

We may inquire how God, by his eternal spirit, in 
whom there is spiritual life and strength, redeems our 
fallen nature out of darkness and death, and brings us 
into the kingdom of righteousness and peace. 

The light that is the reprover of sin, penetrates our 
natural and depraved hearts, and breaks our peace in 
the works of darkness, so that we have no pleasure in 
them, bringing us under the chastisement of the law, 
so that He, by his blessed spirit, may bind up with 
the oil of his grace, and the balm of his salvation, 
which is applied by the gospel, and will lead us in the 
way of eternal life. 

By this light we see what is the corrupt state of our 
minds, and the evil and danger of sin, which weans the 
heart and affections, from those things that are forbid- 
den in the gospel, and begets a desire and an earnest 
inquiry after the Redeemer of Israel O ! how bur- 
thensome is the captivity of sin, to a heart thus illumi- 
nated by the blessed spirit, when we have a glimpse of 
what we might be by grace ; that there is a prepara- 
tory state for man, that he may enjoy that life which 
is of the spirit and love of God. By this light we see 
we are strangers and aliens from this living spirit of 
life, and the works we do, are unrighteous, and the in- 
quiry of the soul is, " who shall deliver me from the 
body of this death, of sin.'' And while the heart and af- 
fections are thus returning from the captivity of sin 
and death, and inquiring after redeeming powers, the 
enemy lays many temptations before us, striving to 
entice us with sin, and draw us more and more under 

8 



114 THE PATH OF REDEMPTION. 

the chains and bondage of iniquity, and lull our awa- 
kened cor)science to sleep under a false alarm of our 
condition ;. he whispers, all is well, and uses his utmost 
skill to keep the conscience quiei, that he may multi- 
ply his teniptations and ensnare us. Here is the great 
stiuggle; the powers of the soul become weakined, 
the mind becomes darkened, and our prayers appear of 
no effect, and redeeming power and virtue, seem afar 
off Beloved reader, here is cause of deep trial of 
spirit, but the Lord in the midst of the enemy's tempta- 
tion, and while surrounded by darkness, makes bare the 
arm of his power, and breaks the yoke of the oppres- 
sor from off the neck of the captive, and bnngs them 
out of that state of darkness and death, by inclining^ 
the heart of the captive to himself, and placing their feet 
in the path that leads to the holy land. O! here the 
captive soul is liberated, the burdened mind finds rest, 
the heart that was dejected and sorrowi'ul, is filled with 
joy, contentment and happiness, as a stream from the 
iountain of life runs through the soul, as they press 
forward towards the mark of the prize of the high 
calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Although we are brought from under the powers of 
darkness, yet, dear reader, we are not freed fiom the 
tempter ; for he would deceive the very elect if it were 
possible. The natural mind cannot conceive things 
aright, we cannot understand ; therefore we must be 
brought under the teachings and chastisements of the 
law. O alas ! our unbeiief and disobedience is a source 
of deep trial, and causes us to drink niany a bitter 
cup; our tormer customs and habits amst receive a 
change; the desire for gaiety and mirth, frolics and 
fashions, must be brought under the divine teachings. 
Here is the struggle between the two natures, which 
were against each other ; when we desire to do good, 
evil is present. O! these are bitter chastisements, to 
have sin presented by the tempter which the soul loaths, 
and from which the heart is turned, and cannot 



THE PATH OF REDEMPTION. 115 

perform the good which we desire, and long after ; and 
to which the heart is united, by reason of weakness 
through the flesh, and the power which the corruptions 
of the heart and the prince of darkness exercises over 
us. Here, alas! many fall back into temptation, and 
become again entangled with the yoke of bondage, and 
are led by the enemy into the land of captivity. But, 
dear reader, ihe exercise ol the soul must be to lie low 
at the Redeemer's feet, and hear his gracious words, 
which will melt the soul, break down the stubborn will, 
and subdue the heart and fit it to be moulded by the 
heavenly and eternal spirit into a vessel for the mas- 
ter's use ; the spiritual eyes are opened, and we see our 
poverty; we are made to cry out, O ! my leanness, 
my leanness ; we see the daily inroads of sin, and the 
toil of human nature, dashing as it were against the 
holy and righteous law of life, the overwhelming cur- 
rent of desires forcing the soul from doinoj what it 
loves, and makes it do what it hates and desires not to 
do, reducing it into a humiliating state of poverty, un- 
til we cry for help and supporting grace. 

But, dh ! when we feel the pure visitation of the 
blessed spirit of life, and receive its nourishing virtue, 
how strong does the soul appear, until again it forfeits 
its mercies by negligence, and thereby loses its strength, 
and is plunged deeper into doubts and fears, which fill 
the eyes with tears and the heart with sorrow ; and 
trembling we enter into the house of mourning. Oh ! 
we see our negligence has undone us, and the presence 
of our beloved is withdrawing ; we feel that we have 
grieved that blessed spirit, and provoked our deliv- 
erer. Here the tried soul gives back, and the ene- 
my takes the advantage of every opportunity which 
causeth sorrow, these tried seasons awaken our sym- 
pathy for our brethren, when we see them fall into 
tempfation. We know how liable the young convert 
is to err ; it makes the whole church mourn and to be 
afflicted, and they know not how to be hard or deal 



116 THE PATH OF REDEMPTION. 

harsh with them, for we all feel our continual need of 
daily supplies of grace and mercy. 

Oh ! how that awakened soul, that is sensihle of its 
guilt, longeth to be washed in the fountain of regenera- 
tion ; how he panteth to feed in the pasture of life. O! 
how that soul that sees his daily defects, and is afflicted 
with unbelief and disobed ence, panteth after that faith 
that is unshaken, and that obedience that is kept in the 
power of his might, whose prayer is, "God teach me 
thy statutes, direct me in the path of obedience, and 
guide my feet in the way of everlasting life. Oh ! 
write thy fear in my heart that I may never depart 
from thee ; create in me a clean heart, and put thy spir- 
it within me, and continue t^y loving kindness." 

Oh! what humble breathings daily flow from the 
broken in spirit to the great deliverer. Here they are 
brought into the furnace, and refined, purified from the 
dross, whi. h work, sweetly goes on, until their unright- 
eousness is consumed, and the heart is sound in doc- 
trine, and strong in faith, and able to bear persecution 
and reproaches from the world. 

Oh ! how often the young convert is scourged and 
smitten for disobedience, having too great a desire to 
please the world, and for not forsaking their former cus- 
toms, sensual w^ays and formal worship. 

Now the more the spirit is humbled under the mighty 
hand of God, the more we love and fear him, the less 
desire w^e feel to contend with the persecuting spirit of 
the world. We see that it is even less than vanity, 
and the better w^e are prepared to stand in the counsel 
and defence of the truth, and to wait humbly for 
strength and preservation, and rely on Him whose 
power is able to bear us up above the raging tempest 
and dashing wakes of the w^orldly spirit of men, as the 
soul waits on God in all his directings, and adheres 
to the teachings of the spirit, for there are fears with- 
in, yea, fightings within and fears without, to resist evil 
and watch against the enemy of souls, lest he inter- 



THE PATH OF REDExMPTION. 117 

rupt the work of God in the souls of his chilch'en, tliat 
he may not hide his fnce from them nor withdraw his 
sweet presence. 

Dear reader, you may be ready to inquire, why this 
spiritual work has such a warJare ; why the path is so 
rough ; it is because our corrupt nature requires it, that 
we may be purified and fitted as holy vessels, for this is in 
accordance with the wisdom of God, that he exerciseth 
and tryeth his people until they are perfect. 

The Lords' people ever have been a tried people; 
their faith, their strength and virtue must be proved, 
that they may see their further wants, and know indeed, 
or where their strength lieth ; for in the time of revivals 
prosperity of the church, the soul has enough of spiritual 
strength, but in the day of distress, when some back- 
slide from the fiiith, then is a time of trial, and we need 
the faith, the love, the patience to be renewed, by hum- 
bly waiting on God for support, and a renewal of 
strength. Here, in those stripings of the church, we 
see the need of his divine presence. We thought pre- 
vious to this time of trial, that we had grace enough to 
live upon, but now we are pressed with want and hun- 
ger. Oh ! how these times of poverty, these proving 
seasons, qualifies us for a clearer perception of the 
goodness of God, and a fuller enjoyment of his love, 
and prepares us to wait before him with becoming rev- 
erence of soul, and feel him to be our all-in-all, our 
strength, our health, and everlasting salvation. Oh! 
happy is that soul that passes through these trials, not 
fainting by the way, but following on until they obtain 
the victory. 

Dear reader, we have great need to watch against an 
aspiring spirit, there is danger of ascending step by step, 
and becoming exalted in our own minds, and thereby 
Iosin<? that fear which preserves the heart pure. Then 
that humble simplicity is betrayed, and a wrong spirit 
lives and reigns, a wrong understanding is (-pened ; the 
heart exalted, and self-conceitedj in the departure from 



118 THE PATH OF REDEMPTION. 

the way of life, we must pray and live as it were in 
the valley of humility, for there is no way of safety in 
our travel through this veil, but under the cross which 
crucifieth this aspiring spirit. 

We were created by God, to be vessels of his pleas- 
ure and his holyness, so that our proper duty is to 
watch unto the spring from whence we came. Man 
was pure before the fall ; until a corrupt spirit entered 
into him, and while any thing of that corrupt spirit re- 
mains, he is too apt to indulge this aspiring nature, and 
seek the enjoyment that comes from that fountain. 

Now dear reader, if we would travel on our way in 
safety to the promised Canaan, we must have our pass- 
port written by the finger of God in our own hearts, 
and a sense thereof preserved afresh from day to day. 
For it is the love of God's free grace which begins, 
and perfecteth the work of redemption, and causeth 
the light to shine upon our transgressions, and a work 
of sorrow and repentance is commenced ; turning 
from sin unto God, and his grace visiting the soul in 
this state of darkness, begeteth life anew, and upeneth 
the eye to see the things th^it belong to our peace, and 
an ear to hear the t)ospel of the Son of God, and a 
heart to turn from sin to righteousness 

Here, God by his holy spirit, carries on the ^^ork 
of redemption, quickening the soul from dead works, 
exercising that which be hath begotten under the law 
of life, and drawing the soul daily, nearer and nearer 
towards the everlasting spring and fountain of life; 
but if it is not received in the heart, the work of re- 
demption will stop ; for if the ear is not open to hear 
the voice of the blessed word, or if it be not mixed 
with faith in the heart of the hearer, it proveth ineffec- 
tual. 

Oh ! dear reader, mark the mercy, goodness and 
grace of our blessed Lord in our redemption ; mark 
the exercise of the creature: what sorrow for sin, 
what repenting and striving to believe, what wrest- 



THE PATH OF REDEMPTION. 119 

ling against the enemy, and what craving of the influ- 
ence of his grace, what hope, watching and wailing, 
as if we worked o.t our own salvation ! You may 
say, surely the creature hath muc[i to do ; yet, it is the 
free grace and virtue which cometh from God, which 
indeed doath all, though we may really repent and turn 
from darkness, and sin's destructive may, with the 
whole heart, yet the repentance is of the Lord, who 
breathes in us the desire to repent ; so .likewise is the 
faith ; it is the gift of God, yea, the very receiving of 
the grace is of the Lord, in whom we have strength, 
for we are dead in sin UJitil breathed upon by the holy 
spirit, aad thereby quickened and made alive, and 
strengthened to receive it. We wliose eyes are open- 
ed can see thij wonderful mystery, and with true un- 
derstanding, say with the beloved apostle, " I can do all 
things, through Christ that strengtheneth me ;" yet not 
I but the grace of God that str3ngtheneth me. 

Now there is no preventing that convicting grace, 
but we may draw from under the influence of the free 
covenant; therefore let those fear who feel the power 
and redeeming virtue, lest he withdraws his spirit and 
leaves you to yourselves to hardness of heart and repro- 
bacy of mind. Rather give all diligence to make your 
callling and election sure, thereby w^orking out your 
salvation with fear and trembling, fr^r God worketh in 
us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Thus, 
by obedience, and diligently seeking, we may attain 
the seal of redemption, ev3n that which can never be 
taken away; and arrive to full assurance of faith in 
the Redeemer's love. Oh ! the riches of the mercy 
and love of God! Who can understand his vearning;s 
tow^ards us and his ways of visiting and redeeming us ? 
Oh ! my soul, hope thou in the Lord forever, for in 
him is everlasting strength ; he is the shepherd and 
bishop of souls ; he watches over his flock with an eye 
of compassion; he knows our wants; he administers 
Jto our relief; his ear is open to our prayers. Oh! 



120 THE PATH OP REDEMPTION. 

that Saviour feels our sorrows, for he himself had sor- 
row too intolerable to be borne by man ; none but a 
God could have borne them. Such is his tender re- 
gard for his faithful ones, that they are iepresented as 
his "flesh and bones." When he ^p^ke to Saul of 
Tarsus, "why persecutest thou me?" it was the con- 
verts to Jesus Saul persecuted. The trials and prov- 
ings of an established child of God, are only in propor- 
tion to their strength ; the sweet whisper of redeem- 
ing love is, " my grace is sufficient for thee." O ! what 
strength to our poor hearts, when we meet with heavy 
trials, to remember Jesus is in the immediate presence 
of the Father interceding for his people ; still engaged 
for them that love hmi, and is preparing mansions of 
blessedness for his faithful, and will soon descend in rap- 
turous love to bring his redeemed to the portals of bliss. 

Dear reader, do you feel that you are redeemed by 
him? If you ..re, he will protect you through life, and 
upon his omnipotent arm you may lean, when nature 
sinks, and the final hour of your departure, from time 
draws nigh ; and when you have passed the dark veil 
of death, the flow of the Saviour's love will still be 
greater than heart can conceive. 

O ! wlio can fathom the depth of the Saviour's love ? 

" Let rocks and hills 

There lasting silence break. 
And all harmonious human tongues, 

The Saviour's praises speak," 

his affection is more tender than that of th^ most doting 
parent. O, what friend, brother or sister, has been so soli- 
citous lor your hap|>iness a-^ the blessed Jesus: what has 
he not done for you ? — become a poor sufferer on earth, 
and died a shocking and painful death to redeem you 
to God ! How can you w^ithhold your heart from him, 
and deny him his claims of love? O! what base in- 
gratitude! What greater marks of Atheism could a 
man show to the world, than to travel through life 



THE PATH OF REDEMPTION. 121 

without thinking of the grand object of his being, and 
his dearest interests? Bold indeed must be that 
wretch, and hardened in sin, that would not be nnoved 
at the groans of a h>ving and dying Saviour. 

O! reader, if you have not given yourself to him, 
go now, without delay, and present yourself with all 
you have and are ; it is nothing but your reasonable 
service. He bore our sorrows, that we might reap 
eternal joys. He carried our griefs as a heavy bur- 
then, wandering as an offcast in the world, without a 
place to lay his blessed head, that we might walk the 
golden streets 'ot the Celestial City; he covered all 
our guilt with his own pure righteousness ; his tender 
temples were pierced with thorns, that we might be 
crowned with everlasting glory ; and he drank the bitter 
cup of gall, that we might escape eternal punishment. 
Surely nought but a heart of stone that would not be 
moved at the sufferings of the Lamb of God, his ex- 
treme agony and bloody sweat in the garden; his ten- 
der back, torn and mangled with the scourger's lash ; 
his hands and feet pierced with the rugged spikes, and 
nailed to the accursed tree, hanging between heaven 
and earth, enduring torture too intolerable for human 
conception ; and all this sufferings to save us from the 
horrors of the second death, that he might redeem us 
from hell, and the torments of the damned ! O! can- 
not your heart be made to feel ; is there no room in it 
for the love of a bleeding, dying Saviour? o! un- 
converted reader, had I power of language to present 
before you the sufferings of our Lord upon the cross^ 
when the curtain of night hung over creation and veil- 
ed the awful spot, while from the vitals of the tender 
heart of the dying Jesus, heaved the groan that burst 
the rocks and rent the veil of the temple asunder, and 
all nature tren^bled before its God ! O ! holy spirit, 
open the eyes of sinners, that they may see a visible 
representation of the dying Jesus, as he hung upon the 
cross. Young reader, must he endure such sufferings 
for you, and receive such returns. 



122 THE PATH OF REDEMPTION. 

Aged sister, have you hitherto neglected the religion 
of the son of God, and refused redeniption through his 
blood ? Behold him on the cross dying for you ! Was 
he to present to you his bleeding hands as he did to 
Thomas, and say, "reach hither thy finger, and place 
it in the mangled prints of th9 nails, and thrust thy 
hand into my wounded side, from whence is ooozing 
blood and water," and with thai affectionate look, say, 
** be not faithless, but believing !" Aged sinner, behold 
that bleeding side was pierced for you, that head was 
crowned with thorns, for you ! And will you create 
afresh the pangs he endured by your unbelief and ob- 
stinacy ; must he send one from the dead to warn you 
of your danger ; must angels come from the realms of 
bliss, and tell how Jesus suffered for you ; must you 
see miracles wrought, the graves opening, and the 
dead come forth, betore you can believe ? " Blessed 
are they/' said Jesus, " that have not seen, and yet be= 
lieve." 



CHAPTER XIIL 

REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER, OR RESIGNATION TO THE DI- 
VINE WILL. 

Resignation to the divine will, is one of the brightest 
traits in the christian character : '' Father, not my will, 
but thine be done." This must bethe breathings of the 
soul of every child of God, or he cannot have the ap- 
probation of the Father, or the holy comrn mion of the 
spirit, whose approbation is of more consequence than 
that of all earthly friends besides. The Lord has deigned 
to bless the humble in a peculiar manner, and designs 
to regard obedience as peculiarly acceptable to himself. 
Then, dear reader, if you desire full communion with 
the blessed spirit while here on earth, and to be useful 
to the church, and glorified in heaven, I beseech you to 
cultivate this heavenly spirit ; it will make you happy 
forever — -you will be happy in adversity, as well as 
prosperity, happy in affliction— and when death shall 
dislodge your soul from its clay tenement, it will be re- 
ceived into the endless abodes of tlie blessed. Resig- 
nation to the divine will, how it adorns the youth, and 
is acceptable in the sight of the wosi h'W\ at any 
age, and may be deemed true wisdom. His woid de- 
clares the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wis- 
dom, and a good understanding have they that do his 
commandments. A man may be poor and ignorant, 
and destitute of the comforts of life, and consolation of 
friends; yet if guided by the counsel of God; this hum- 
ble soul shall be recognized by God as his faithful 
Look at that poor, humble heart of Lazarus, which 
sank at the gate of the noble and rich; but me thinks, 
the breathing of that soul was : " Father, not my will, 



124 REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER. 

but thine be done/' Angels brooded over that reek- 
ing tVanrie, and bore that spirit on wings of love to the 
bosom of Abraham, while the exalted heart of the rich, 
refused to lend protection or administer comfort to the 
afflicted ; he lieeded not the commandments of the Al- 
mighty and was driven from the presencj* of Gori, to wail 
in torment, his awtui state. Here is a w^arning for us 
that speaks in thunder-tones to the heart of every man, 
and will stand as a warnino; for acres that are yet un- 
born — when the shroud, the coffin, and the grave of 
this generation, shall be lost in th? dust that covers 
them. O! vain and wretched man, whose heart is too 
stubborn to breathe one prayer to God — whose time 
and brightest talents are misapplied. O! dear youths 
humble your heart before him, and secure his iavor ; 
his favour will be more to you than gold, or even life ; 
it will cover you as a garment, when the w^orld itself 
has passed away like a shadow. 

That vouthful heart that is bowed in humble sub- 
mission to the divine will, has peculiar charms ; no 
sight on earth is so lovely, as to see the youth, in the 
bloom of life, learning the lessons of obedience, and 
hearing those melodioas strains : *' Father, not my will, 
but thine be done." O ! remember, that one of Christ's 
commandmems to Peter was: "feed my lambs," 

How -pleasing it is to a parent to have an obedient 
child, submissive and dutilul; how much more pleas- 
ing to God. Turn the pages of holy writ, and see the 
list of names which God has distinguished in his word; 
they learned lessons of obedience while young. Abel, 
the first of the Martyrs, brought offerings to God, while 
but a youth ; Abraham set out for that heavenly land, 
while young ; Moses counted the reproach of Christ 
greater riches than the treasures of Egypt ; and Samuel, 
while but a youth, said to the Lord, " speak, for thy ser- 
vant heareth ;" Job, the most righteous of all the men of 
the east, distinguished for his piety and patience, learn- 
ed the lesson of obedience while young, and was u 



REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER. 125 

prayerful man in the decline of life ; and many more 
could be named. History could tell us of hundreds 
thar are not here named, that sought the Lord in youth ; 
Mary, that sat at Jesus' feet, and heard the words that 
he delivered— Christ said that she had chosen the good 
part, that none could take from her, God hath ever 
regarded the humble and obedient in every age of the 
world ; f )r it consists in a belief of the gospel, in the 
holiness of its precepts, and the truth of all its prom- 
ises; this belief will lead to that repentance, which 
needeth not to be repented of; this obedience will lead 
us toconiorm our lives to the law and requiringsof God, 
from the relation we stand in to him as creatures. Da- 
vid exhorts us — chap 95, verse 6. *• O come, let us 
w^orship and bow down : let us kneel before the Lord 
our maker. For he is our God ; and we are the peo- 
ple of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To-day 
if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart." For 
he hath revealed his law to us in his w^ord ; and the 
blessings of his providence we are constantly reciev- 
ing. We can but hint at the advantages of obedi- 
ence to God ; the obedient adorn the doctrines of God 
their Saviour in all things ; the old man with his 
deeds is put off, and the new man Christ Jesus is put 
on, and rejoices the hearts of God's people, and stops 
the mouths of the gainsayers, and introduces practical 
religion as delightful. 

Youth is the time when those lessons should be taken, 
while your minds are not filled with cares, nor your 
body worn down by toil and infirmities ; but while in 
health, and while you possess all the vigor of life, it is 
the season to offer youself to God. By prayer, hum- 
bly sending your petition to heaven for mercy, and 
desiring the name of Jesus to be conformed to his wij], 
passive as the clay, what can be more rational than 
obedience to the divine command ; which is, that 
men always should pray, and not faint. 



126 REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER. 

We should approach God alone through Jesus Christ, 
as our mediator; to approach God in any other way 
but by Christ, would be idolatry ; it does not consist 
in any iorm of words ; but simply unfolding the de- 
sires of the heart to God, manifesting a sense of his 
goodness and our own unworthiness ; and in this spir- 
it we ask for pardo*: of all our sins, confessing our guilt 
in an humble manner. We, dear reader, can pray at 
all times and in all places; it matters not in what po- 
sition the body is placed, the soul can breathe its de- 
votions to God; in public or private, in health or af- 
fliction, in temptation and danger, the breathings of the 
soul to God cannot be impeded l^y any outward cir- 
cumstance. O! how it fosters the mind, and preserves 
it in a heavenly frame ; prevents it being temptetl by 
the world, and elevates the affections to God. How 
necessary, dear sister, is secret pi'ayer; our closet is 
w4iere we otten meet with God. How a performance 
of this great duty will inspire us with peace, and make 
us happy ; here we may receive strength to defend us 
from our spiritual enemies; here we may learn the 
lesson of obedience, and meditate on the wonders of 
his love, and the number of those mercies that are 
granted to us; here, with wonder and humility, we 
may behold Jesus, as given by God, to snatch even us 
from the pit of woe: these humbling meditations will 
excite us to live for him that died for us. 

Youthful obedience manifests the truest love for 
Christ, shows your gratitude for his boundless love, 
and delivers you from the awful load of guilt that would 
accrue from a course of years in sin ; you would not 
have to smite your breast and say, how I have grieved 
that blessed spirit which has long followed me for years, 
and slighted so many opportunities of receiving his 
benefits. 

Now, reader, there are several dispensations of God 
to man, in all v^'hich, man of himself falls short of obe« 
dience, and comes under condemnation ; and the blame 



REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER, 127 

iays entirely on man for not hearkening and believing: 
"for I have called, but ye have refused." You cannot 
lay the b arne on God ; but it is your own disobedience, 
disobedient to the calls of mercy, disobedient to the 
light that you are bound to confess shines in your 
heart and reproves you. 

Dear reader, I ask you in the name of the blessed 
Son of God, why you do not obey it. What excuse 
can you have ? Is this your plea, that you want the 
power. O, consider vain man ! will this excuse stand 
before God ? Nay, this is the condemnation that men 
do not believe the light, nor obey the Gospel of Christ, 
they do not follow his teachings that would lead them 
to obedience, but still travels on in the road to death 
and everlasting condemnation. We confess the power 
does not come of man, but of God. Truly there is 
the strength and power of the enemy against the work 
of God in the heart, which Christ likened to a grain 
of mustard seed, which grew until the fowls of heaven 
lodged in its branches. Here is the great deceit of man ; 
he looks for something great which, indeed is small at 
first, that is given for him to begin with ; the small mov- 
ings o[ convictions in the heart, rising up against the 
mighty torrent of corruptions in him, and by obedi- 
ence to this moving, or light that beamed in the soul, 
the strength will be given and the power obtained, and 
he will be drawn nearer and still nearer to the Lord, 
and the enemy will fall back, and you will gain the 
power over him you know not how. Satan knows not 
how to attack the truly obedient, when he sees that 
humble soul waiting on God, the precious seed, which 
is God's grace, is planted in the heart by the eternal 
spirit, in a mysterious way which man knoweth not 
of; it spreads its blessed influence through the whole 
man, and he receives strength he knows not how. Like 
the leaven that were hid in three measures of meal, 
until the whole partook of its nature ; we look for the 
grace of the kingdom, the power, and the life, in the 



128 REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER, 

way of our observation, but it never appears in the way 
of man's planning, but in the way of God « eternal pur- 
pose, it springs in the hearts of many, in a way so differ- 
ent from their planning, that they tun from it at first ap- 
pearance, and overlook it by not knowing its proper 
appearance, and expecting it in some other way, there- 
by giving the enemy more holt upon them; and he 
draws the bands of captivity still tighter l>y thus refu- 
sing the prince of life in the office of the spirit; and 
until the heart is humbled, and the lofty mind subdued, 
man can never see the Saviour in the way of his com- 
ing, nor feel the efficacy of his saving power to deliver 
them from the bondage of their captivity. This was 
my own experience I w^as long withheld from this 
blessed principle of life in the soul, by not being obe- 
dient to its small appearance and teaching, which was 
the reprover of sin. The enemy thus far deceived 
me, telling me my sins were great and required much 
to be done, therefore I looked for great power to help 
me, and when overcome by temptation, I could only 
weep and rnourn over it, and complain of human de- 
pravity, and crave for more power to resist tempta- 
tion, which kept me from being obedient to the light I 
had already received, and cleaving to that wherein our 
great help lieth, which springs according to the divine 
will, which is quite contrary to the way of man's ex- 
pectation, but as we humble ourselves, lay aside our 
self-will and all our planning, and (.ecome obedient, we 
see our state of darkness and alienation from God. 

Dear reader, here is the power of an awakened con- 
science which would never take place ii the powers 
of darkness could prevent it. Here is the struggle of 
the heart ao-ainst sin, and breathinors after deliverance 
from it, and reaching after the redeeming arm, which 
all the powers of darkness, nor all the subtilty of the 
enemy can divert the heart from : which begets an 
humble frame of spirit towards the great deliverer, 
willing to come under the power of his protection, 



REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER. 129 

with prayer and cravings to be delivered from the en- 
emy and the power of his subtlety. Your obedience 
will lead you to hope and trust in the Lord's good- 
ness and mercy, prayerfully waiting for the manifes- 
tations of the spirit, and strength to overturn the ene- 
my ; battering down his strong holds, and thereby giv- 
ing the plant of life nourishment and room to flourish. 

Oh ! when the Lord eclipses the cheering ray of his 
presence from the soul ; the stayings and upholdings 
of the heart in these hours of darkness, and draws the 
s( ul under the veil ; even here, the power is near ; 
secretly upholding, preserving, and watching over the 
soul, the enemy would never be wholly conquered, and 
the strongholds in the heart broken down, and the re- 
demption from under his hand perfected, did not the 
Lord interpose. But God knoweth the state of 
his creatures, their weakness, and the power of the 
enemy over them ; we therefore would suppose the 
power must be great, that gives strength and delivers 
us from his captivity. 

Dear reader, have you not already received strength 
to forsake your sins and come out of spiritual Babylon, 
and be obedient to the truths revealed in the gospel ? 
and as you are faithful to the grace already given, more 
will spring up in you, urging you to yield to its teach- 

Dear youth, while I insist on your implicit obedi- 
ence to the light you have, think not that it will make 
you unpopular, or unhappy, or poor; far frt>m it. — 
What 1 crave is, that you may be truly rich, happy, 
and honorable : not merely for the little span in which 
earthly riches or honors are concerned ; not merely 
for a period so short as a life time, though it were four 
score years : but rich and happy forevermore. O se- 
cure those riches that will endure through the ages of 
eternity, which are far above the riches or honors of 
this world. Man considereth not its true value, nei- 
ther is it to be found on earth ; gold nor silver cannot 

9 



130 REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER. 

equal it: and though you possessed crowns and king- 
doms, they all will vanish and leave you destitute and 
helpless. Then turn your mind to those riches that are 
solid, and that happiness that endureth. 

Dear reader, I am aware, that at every period of our 
lives there are difficulties that will present themselves 
to obstruct oar obedience to the light of truth ; yet it 
is much easier to turn the mind to tiiose things that be- 
long to our peace, while young, than at a later period 
of life ; the heart is not so hardened as it is by a life 
of impenitence and sin; the mind is more susceptible 
of instruction than when prejudices have darkened all 
its faculties, and sin corrupted all your morals, and ex- 
cluded all that heavenly light from the mind ; when 
sin has long reigned and triumphed, and Satan for years 
led you captive, it will be hard to escape his tyranny, 
and rid yourselves of his heavy yoke and bonds of op- 
pression. No doubt many of my dear brethren know 
this from experience, that the difficulties are great to- 
turn to God at a later period of life ; disease is most 
easily checked at its first appearance, before it has 
hold on the vital part ; so likewise the diseased soul, 
will easier yield to the means provided in the gos- 
pel for its recovery at an early period : there is scrip- 
tural reason to believe that God will sooner hear your 
prayer, and grant you mercy, if you turn to him in 
youth, than if you refuse his calls, and grieve his spir- 
it ; he may not regard your petition, and delay to man- 
ifest his forgiving love, and you pass through many 
trying scenes of anxiety and pain, that you w^ould 
never have had to experience, if you had not relused. 
Remember God is under no obligations to save the diso- 
bedient, neither will he always bear with our ingrati- 
tude : "For my spirit shall not always strive with 
man." O, then, turn now to the Lord ! no longer de- 
lay nor add sin to sin — lest God's spirit be grieved, and 
you left to hardness of heart, and that forever ! Take 
heed, lest, by continuing in a course of disobedience, 



REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER. 131 

you strew with difficulties the only way to life which 
is now comparatively easy to travel, and shut against 
yourself the gate that leads to life, and the door of mer- 
cy by which you might escape destruction. O turn 
now, before you incur his displeasure, and escape 
the sw^ord of justice, and the fire that never shall be 
quenched. 

The world looks at religion in a wrong light ; they 
suppose it to afford nothing but gloom and melancholy, 
and is fit for none but the old : but when we see the 
young come out on the Lord's side, renouncing the 
world in the prime of life, they tell us religion has 
charms that the world cannot give, and wins the 
heart to God — ^t shows to the world that there are ex- 
cellencies that are revealed to none but the obe- 
dient. 

O visit the dying chamber of that youth that gave 
his heart to God, and hear him tell the joys of religion 
and the tranquility of the obedient heart ; whose course 
on earth has been short, and who has bid adieu to 
all beneath the sun : he tells you there is no charms in 
this deluded world to tempt him to desire to stay; but 
he, with joy, bids farewell to all things below, and calm- 
ly departs to the realms of bliss. 

Then let religion be your daily concern ; for " Those 
that be planted in the house top of the Lord shall 
flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still 
bring forth fruit in old age.'' — Psalm xcii : 13. 

Dear youth, do you not want to be a new creature 
in Christ Jesus ? Learn obedience, and there will be 
joy in heaven ; in the presence of the angels of God, 
you shall be blessed ; for all your sins and transgres- 
sions shall be forgiven, for there is no condemnation to 
them that are in Christ Jesus — and though your sins 
may have been as scarlet, they shall all be blotted and 
covered by the righteousness of Christ. Jesus is the 
propitiation for all our sins — we have redemption 
through his blood ; redeemed not with corruptible 



132 REFLECTIONS ON PRAYER. 

things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood 
of Christ. O! dear youth, if you are obedient, you 
shall be accepted in the beloved, and be made meet 
for the inheritance of the saints of light; and though 
you dwell on earth, your home is in glory ; though the 
world may revile you, great is your reward in heaven ; 
for your life is high with Christ in God ; and when 
Christ shall appear, you will appear also with him in 
glory; and, although your work is not quite complete 
on earth, yet the angel of the Lord will cam}) round 
about you, and ministering spirits attend the heirs of 
salvation; for their names are written in the book of 
Hfe, and that sweet heavenly spirit shall fill your mind, 
and the Lord will infinitely reward all your services, 
and say, "Come ys blessed of my fatner, inherit the 
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the 
world.'' O! how happy is that man whose God is the 
Lord. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS. 

The blessings of religion are incalculable. I appeal 
to you beloved brethren, do not your hearts burn 
within you when you contemplate the blessings that 
a truly pious course will insure ? And, although we nciay 
enumerate them, and ponder them over and over again, 
our estimate is a very imperfect one; and the sinner, 
when converted to God, can but exclaim, " the half has 
not been told." The christian is rich in every sense 
of the word. Riches how desirable to man ; with 
what anxiety will he look forward to that period when 
his labors will be crowned with wealth, ** Then buy of 
me Gold that thou mayest be rich." You may be rich 
for time and for eternity : though you could add farm 
to farm, and house to house ; though you presided in 
palaces of earthly rer;own, decked in fine linen and 
purple ; though you possessed dominions and thrones— 
these will soon vanish away : but the riches of the 
humble believer are infinite. O what can those lack 
that possess religion; for they do his commandments^ 
and have a right to the tree of life. To the christian, 
what situation could be devoid of comfort : were he 
cast into prison, the comforter would be there ; were 
he in the cottage, the presence of the Lord would 
cheer the lonely spot. He ^can look by faith to his 
home in the skies; he can look on the coffin and the 
tomb without dismay, and say, ''here ends the toil of 
my weary journey on earth ;*' and with joy he enters 
the dark vale to the realms of bliss : " I enter the dark 
vale not alone ; upon Jesus I lean ; he will bear me safe 
through, where I shall enjoy the Saviour's eternal love/' 



134 KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. 

" Whosoever shaJl do the will of my Father which is 
in heaven, the same is my brother, sister and mother." 

blessed word ! the christian is united with him in an 
endeared union, and enjoys the flower of his affection 
and love in the tenderest connection. He will guide 
the feet of the inexperienced in the way of life ; his 
word will teach you his commandments; his promises 
will support you in every period of life, even to de- 
clining years ; "for his love endureth forever." Then, 
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ!" — 
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, 
or nakedness, or sword ? Nay, in all these we are 
more than conqueror, through him that loved us ; *' For 

1 am persuaded,'' saith the child of God, '' that neither 
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 
not things present nor things to come, nor heighth, nor 
depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate 
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
To those that keep his commandments, his love reaches 
to the eternal w^orld, his blessings follow them through 
their earthly journey, and hushes into silence every 
rising fear, and h'ghts up their pathw^ay to that heaven- 
ly country. The limited span of life is too narrow for 
his blessings ; his goodness extends far beyond this 
mortal life — eternity itself can only make known his 
love. The dearest ties of nature may soon be sever- 
ed : think where is our father ; where is that doting 
mother, or that dear babe, and son and daughter — 
minghng with their mother dust! but that dear tie that 
has bound the believer to Christ shall never be dissolv- 
ed. Ihe harmony of nature may cease and be thrown 
into one confused mass of ruin ; the stars may quit 
their destined places, and the moon may stream in 
blood, and that sun veil his face in darkness, and this 
earth disappear : but the love of Jesus will endure ; 
his compassionate eye is ever over those that do his 
commandments. That loved soul, though hated by 
the world, and driven from society, an exile to some 



KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. 135 

lonely spot, yet Jesus will be there, his love will dawn 
upon the soul, and spread its cheering rays amidst the 
clouds of worldly sorrow : no earthly circumstance 
can separate thee from the Saviour's love. Blessed are 
they that do his commandments, though they died mar- 
tyrs at the stake to secure this blessing; happy they 
that keep them in youth; happy they that do them, 
for their peace can never be taken away. O, dear 
reader, may God by his spirit teach you to count all 
things but dross, compared with this most precious 
blessing. How touching to be assured from divine 
authority that God pitieth our infirmities, even as a 
parent pitieth his infant : for he is acquainted wdth all 
our weakness, frailty and sorrow, and succoreth us who 
are but dust, for he v/as tried with the frailty of hu- 
man nature. It is said that it was possible for a mo- 
ther to forget her infant that she fondled on her bosom ; 
but it is impossible for God to cease to love those thcit 
do his commandments. O! how vast is that love 
which he manifested in the gift of Jesus! Then re- 
member your Saviour in the prime of youth, and he 
will guide you safely through ten thousand snares, and 
keep your feet in the way of peace. Many he has 
guided through the slippery paths of youth, and 
brought them to dwell with angels in the paradise of 
God : w^hile many have refused, and, we awfully fear, 
are wailing in sorrow their wretched fate ! O, keep 
r is commandments, and he will keep you as in the 
hollow of his hand, and bring you safely to his eternal 
kingdom. 

Dear reader, if you are yet in your sins, you answer 
none of those ends for which you are created ; you are 
unprofitable to God, for you bring him no honor ; you 
are disobedient to Christ, and give him not your heart ; 
you are a bad example to your associates, for you lead 
them in the road to death, and, by your negligence, 
they are hardened in sin ; you grieve your religious 
friends, instead of cheering them by your example: 



136 KEEP THE COMMANDMENTi. 

thus you fill up the measure of your iniquity, thereby 
heaping up wrath against the day of wrath. Think, 
O think, vain man! will you spend a lil'e of toil to 
make your state more awful. 

Will you live to be a cumberer of the ground, and 
in the sight of God a wandering prodigal ; will you of- 
fend that God that gave his son to redeem you, and 
has spared you to repent, and called you from time to 
time to make your peace with God. Think, I beseech 
you, how many useless years you have spent, think 
how much good you might have done, and how happy 
you might have been. 

Dear reader, make religion your early choice, choose 
the Lord by times, and make him the horn of your 
salvation, that you may proclaim his gospel to the 
ends of the earth, and display the influence of his love 
and mercy to a dying world. 

O let us, if we have but one talent, not bury it, 
nor hide it in a napkin, but employ it in keeping the 
commandments, thereb\ glorifying God, that his will 
may be done in us, and his cause advanced by our 
pious example. Religion prepares the mind for every 
event ; yoii can commit your ail upon the Lord, and 
make your escape from all the dangers to which you 
are ex )Osed by sin, and obtain througli him a title to 
glory. ' ^ 

Oh ! dear reader, you cannot prize your religious 
privileges too much, that you may adorn your profes- 
sion, bear affliction and conquer death, for life is un- 
certaie and death is sure. Those that love the world 
more than God, their all is here, their heart is placed 
on the vain things of time, which softly steals away ; 
their hours are spent in thoughtless mirth, leading on 
their vain companions to eternal pain. Alas ! poor 
creatures, ye lovers of pleasure, how vain and trivial 
are the things to which vou cleave ; from all those 
you must be separated, for you must die ; all that is 
dear must be left behind : vour wealth cannot afford 



KEEP THK COMMANDMENTS. 137 

3'ou peace, nor calm the troubled mind. But, if you 
have chosen ihe Lord for your portion, your inheri- 
tance is sure. 

How pleasant are the pastures which my Father 
causeth all his lambs to feed in, a variety of plenty m 
his pastures, yea, for all that do his commandments, 
even milk for babes, and meat for those of riper years; 
and the wine of his grace to strengthen and refresh 
those that are ready to faint, for his life is the price of 
our redemption, and his blood cleanseth ironi all 
sin. 

With sorrow the christian lo^ks back on the time 
he has spept in sin, for w^e all, like sheep have gone 
astray, and wandered upon the barren mountains, even 
to the wilderness, until all was lost for want of the 
true guide. Let us, then, se^ to know where we are 
and where we may find our lost Redeemer. O ! let 
us pray with them that pray, and fast and mourn, until 
we find him, until our eyes can behold the Saviour, 
and all our sorrow be chased away, that he nnay be 
our wisdom, righteousness and sanctification, in whom 
we are complete. Let those that do his commands 
take courage : though thev are tossed bv the enemy on 
every side, your strength is in Him who was a man 
of sorrow and acquainted with grief; stand firm and 
let wave upon w^av • pass over thee, nor give way be- 
cause of them ; neither be cast down; remember, sor- 
row comes at night, but joy in the morning; for the 
days of thy mourning shall be over ; these provings 
are necessary, tha^ we may know . how to speak a 
word of comfort to those that are alike tried. 

By keeping the commandments our faith is increas- 
ed, and we believe the appearance of the Lord to the 
soul ; we cleave to, and drink that heavenly virtue. 
The Lord appears in divers ways to the soul, even as 
a quickening spirit, as a discover, reprover, anJ con- 
demner of sin, and a justifier of righteousness; like- 
wise a strengthener and comforter ; and as a fountain 



138 KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. 

of life, and th^ source of all good. Thus he appear- 
eth to the obedient soul, that loves his appearance, all 
of which brings faith, f r faith is wrought by the word 
of truth dropped in the heart, that living fountain fron?. 
whence the soul came. This is the word of faith, or 
the word which wrought faith under the lamb ; this 
was the word of faith which the apostie preached, and 
which wrought faith under the gospel. Rom. x. This 
faith is the seed of life, from which every s[)irituai 
good springs and grows in the heart, designing in its 
nature, its righteousness, its holiness, its peace, its love, 
its joy, meekness and patien(^, and every christian 
grace as it cleanseth the heart from its former pollutions. 
But if this blessed spirit is rejected, condemnation 
rests upon the soul, and brings it into captivity and 
m* sery ; and it would be better for that soul never to 
have heard the name of Christ, than not to hearken 
and become subject to it. Faith, when received, qui^.k- 
eneth the soul and bringeth it into a state of life, im- 
merging out of a state of death and unbelief; faith 
nourishes this precious seed, and faith is received by 
the invisible powers, produced by the w^ord ; though 
not visibly manifest, it enables the mind to cleave to, 
and depend upon that inward teacher that teaches 
as never man taught : there is an inward turning from 
temptation, resisting evil, by keeping the heart devot- 
ed to God, observing whatsoever he hath commanded. 
Faith produces that belief, or expectation, or hope in 
the Lord to be delivered from the temptations of the 
enemy and saved from his snares ; hope springs up in 
the soul ; it stays the mind even in the midst of storm 
and tempest. It is the house that is built on the rock 
that the storm may rage at, yet it stands unmoved. 
Hope keeps its head above the mighty waters, and the 
heart irom fainting. Hope keeps us from yielding to 
the enemy, and animates us to trust more fully in the 
Lord, and keep all his commandments, out of which 
grow all our spiritual graces ; by this observance, it 



KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. . 139 

sweetens the soul, and righteousness, holiness, peace, 
love, meekness, patience, &c., spring up and succor all 
those christian graces ! Our faith, many times would 
falter and give back were it not for hope, which relieves 
by its strengthening power. 

Dear reader, do you observe to do the command- 
ments ? If you do I know you are neither barren nor 
unfruitful in the v/ork of the Lord, for his love will 
constrain you to obedience. That sweet melting na- 
ture of the blessed God, flows through the whole crea- 
ture, and eradicates all evil from the heart. Oh ! that 
all that fear and keep his commandments, may drink 
to the full from the living fountain. " My father doeth 
all in me,*' saith Christ, and to feel Christ do all in the 
soul, is the joy of every believer. 

Resignation is natural to the child that is born of 
God ; that which is born of the spirit is spirit, and 
seeth and understandeth the things of the spirit; it de- 
lights to honor God, and do his commandments, " I 
have meat to eat that ye know not of," saith Christ. 
To do the will of the Father, w^as his meat and drink ; 
and it is meat and drink to the christian, to do the will 
of God : the soul receives the nourishment, and they 
become strong men and women in Christ Jesus : in 
keeping the holy statutes and commandments of God, 
there is great reward. What pleasure and consolation 
is it to have a conscience void of offence bef )re God, 
in observing to do his requirings. The reward of obe- 
dience is great ; to learn our duty and do it is great ; for if 
ye knov/ these things, happy are ye if ye do them, for 
there is a crown of glory awaits the obedient ; none can 
be happy but in obeying and doing the will of Christ ; 
every ordinance of the church refers us to Christ. His 
nature, virtue, presence, and power, make up all. How 
truly it is said, he is all-in-all to every one that believ- 
eth, and is manifested and operated in the heart byihis 
spirit. He appears through the whole scriptures, and 
every leaf of that blessed volume, has reference to him. 



140 KEEP TH3 COMMANDMENTS. 

and speaks of him in some of his sweet characteristics. 
His meekness, tenderness, gentleness, humility, mercy, 
patience, long-suffering, &c., all these, and many more, 
you may find in the volume of his eternal word. Ex- 
amine this book of bopks, and see his beautiful charac- 
ter, that you may feel that living virtue, moving and 
displaying itself through the creature, breathing life 
into the heart. 

But dear reader, let us hasten from words, for language 
fails to declare His good ess concerning the spiritual 
blessings that attend the faithful ; but draw near to this 
spirit of life in your own soul and learn what joy it is 
to the obedient, and strive to know and comprehend its 
comforts; and I am bold to say, when you have a 
knowledpje of God's love and goodness to you, you 
would be willing to sell all creature knowledge for 
this knowledge, that passeth understanding and dimin- 
ishes not, and is from the treasury, that evil cannot 
enter. The Lord w^ould not that any should perish, 
but that all should come to the knowledge of Christ, 
who is the truth, in whom the elect stand ; and his 
holy advice to man is, to make their peace, calling, and 
election sure ; yea, sure in Christ, which elect, God 
will never reject, that are found in union thereunto. 
Oh! that God would visit the sinner with power, and 
give him the power over sin, for the gift of God, is his 
dominion over sin revealed to man. Be faithful to this 
power of truth; come in to it and abide in it, that you 
may feel its virtue and sanctifying nature, delivering 
you from the bondage of sin and death, that you may 
stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you 
free ; made you free by his life, virtue, and truth, which 
are sealed and made sure to every believer by his cov- 
enants ; therefore, the o4)edient is filled with humility 
and clothed with humility, notwithstanding all the 
graces and heavenly riches which God hath adorned 
and enriched them with, that the Lord may be exalted 
and the creature abased before him saying, " what I am 



KEEP THE COxMMAVDMENTS. 141 

I am by God's mercy and love, by his grace and good- 
ness, which he of his own good pleasure communica- 
ted, and caused me to he fitted with his blessed virtue 
and lov'e". O dear reader, do you know the precious- 
ness of the new birth, and desire to do his command- 
ments — wailing on the Lord — for behold his righteous- 
ness is ready to be revealed, and you brought into the 
divine nature, "For ye are my lambs, and my bosom 
is for you, and thither will I gather you." Oh! the 
goodness of the Lord ! How great and precious are 
his promises! What more than this could even angels 
desire ? What higher privilege ? What nobler honor 
can even angels say, than that " I am a child of God ;" 
and shall we arrive at the same station ? Well may 
my soul wonder and adore such marks of distinction; 
and these may be yours dear reader : you can have 
the privilege of saying, even in this sin-polluted world, 
that you are born of God, and enjoy his goodness and 
his parental care, and know him as your Father, and 
rejoice in him ,as your portion. And even here, you 
may have an interest in all his great and precious 
promises, and when done with time w^iil dwell with 
him that has redeemed us, and forever live in and 
enjoy the highth and depth and length and breadth of 
his immeasurable love. 

Christian, there is joy and peace in believing far 
beyond this world of sorrow. His w^ord reveals a 
blissful Paradise, and an inheritance that is incorrupt- 
ible, undefiled, and fadeth not aw^ay. Oh brethren, 
when w^e compare those enjoyments to the highest 
pleasure this world can give, tliey are but bitter dregs 
and full of deadly poison ; the riches of the w^orld are 
but drops, yea, the wealth of kings is poverty. 

Dear reader, when Christ calls you from the worlds 
and to take his yoke on you, his design is, that you 
should enjoy all these blessings ; and will you still say 
to his blessed spirit when it moves on your heart, go 
thy way for this time, I am not ready to receive thee ? 



142 KEEP THE C0MMANDMEXT3. 

Will you lose eternal riches for trifles of a moment 
which perish with their using? Oh ! tor the sake of your 
eternal peace do not act so unwisely and foolish : naught 
but religion can make you happy, and without it you 
are undone, and it wou d have been better that you 
had never been born. Then turn without delay to 
God, that you may bring glory to him and enjoy the 
comforts of hope and assurance of faith, and the love 
of the holy one, to cheer thee on thy way to the ever- 
lasting kingdom. 

Reader, hast thou passed the meridian of life with- 
out a knowledge of thy redeemer. Delay no longer his 
offers of mercy to thee, nor make repentance more 
bitter, and thy conversion more difficult, by adding 
sin to sin. O may you feel that sorrow that worketh 
repentance; that you have wasted so much of your 
precious tin)e in sin ; a few weeks or months may fin- 
ish your course on earth, and you be brought to judg- 
ment ! 

The blessed bible tells us, that the wavs of wisdom 
are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, 
and that the christian has joy and peace in believing; 
for they rejoice in God, with joy that is unspeakable 
and full of glory, which is a peace that passeth under- 
standing, even alory in tribulation : ask that old vete- 
ran of the cross whether leligion is not the greatest 
source of happiness ; or those that are really pious ; not 
those men of the world that never even felt the weight 
of truth. O how many christians would tell you, that 
they never knev/ what true happiness was until they 
found it in religion. How many dear young people 
could unite their testimony to this truth; then look 
not on religion as destroying your happiness. It is 
true it forbids conformity to the \vorld, and directs you 
to set your affections on things above ; yet it forbids 
no lawful or reasonable use of the innocent comforts 
of earth, and the blessings that God has provided for 
man; it denies you the gambling table, the licentious 



KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. 143 

romance, and those scenes of worldly revelry which 
xhe giddy and deceived call happiness : yet these are 
not sources of happiness even to those that indulge in 
them and appear to love them. Could you ask those 
whose delight appeared to be the play-house if he was 
happy, methinks the answer would be no. Thousands 
sigh and moan over their time that has been so idly 
spent. Then religion brings happiness : for, through 
the knowledge of Jesus you will find peace, peace 
^vithin, a conscience void of offence — forming your 
heart for those enjoyments which are far superior to 
ihose of time and sense ; it fits the heart for commun- 
ion with God, and meditation on the divine blessings. 
Hear the language of one that had experience in the 
comforts of rehgion : " Hov/ amiable are thy taber- 
nacles O Lord of hosts ! my soul longetb, yea even 
fainteth for the courts of the Lord : my heart and my 
flesh cry out for the living God. Blessed are they 
that dwell in thy house, they will still praise thee ; for 
a day in thy courts is worth a thousand elsewhere." 
Hear again : "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the 
house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of wick- 
edness ; my soul thirsteth after thee, my flesh longeth 
for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is, 
for thy loving kindness is better than life ; my lips 
shall praise thee ; thus will I bless thee w^hile 1 live. 
I will lift up my hands in thy name.'' 

How the heart is rejoiced to think of dangers escap- 
ed, and refiect that God hath saved us from perdition ; 
that our sins have deserved death : but we by his grace 
are made heirs of everlasting peace. O believer ! 
look by faith to the dwelling of the blessed, and be- 
hold the adored of the loved Jesus, which lie far be- 
yond the reach of mortal sight. O how happy are 
they that have an humble confidence that they have a 
building of God, a house not made w^ith bands, eternal 
in the heavens. O here is peace and comfort ! the 
christian can look on the tomb without dread, and at 



144 KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. 

death as having no sting; their thoughts are carried 
beyond the tomb, and dwell on more sublime themes 
beyond the skies ! O thoughtless sinner, how long 
will you neglect to keep the commandments? The 
solemn hour is fast hastening when an assembled world 
must be judged ; and happiness or misery inexpressible, 
unchangeable and eternal, must be the sentence pro- 
nounced against every individual ! O, unconcerned 
youth! go look into the cold damp gravr, where your 
dwelling must ere long be, your false delights cannot 
stay the dreaded monster ; but before the Judge you. 
must ap})ear. 

The child of God can look forward wath sweet an- 
ticipation of future scenes of happiness, and appea! 
humbly to the Lord that you have kept the command- 
ments ; and when you reach the close of life, you can 
say, (5racious Redeemer, on thee I rely for happiness, 
though my best duties are imperfect, and my devo- 
tions stained with imperfection, yet grant me the privi- 
lege of sitting at thy feet ; if I look to heaven, thy 
goodness has secured it for me, and thy sufferings and 
death hath brought redemption : it gives me comfort 
to know that thou knowest I love thy comma* dments, 
and that thou hast owned me as tliine, imperfect and 
frail as 1 am : I acknowledge 1 have fallen short of my 
duty, and am an unprofitable servant. But O may I 
look forward with loyful hope to the time when my 
eye shall behold thee, and praise thee through the 
sweep of eternity. No situation on earth can give 
perfect peace. Even the most peaceful and happy 
dwelling where love and harmony reign — for even 
here pain and sorrow have found their way, and death 
lurking round the peaceful dwelling, enters at last and 
breaks the fondest tie. and takes life the most dear: 
but in these severe trials the christian has support and 
consolation, and though he is afflicted and tried, yet 
he has peace, and when he lies down at night, calnm 
and resigned, whether he awakes in this world or in 



KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. 145 

that which is to come. O that the sinner knew the 
comforts that the christian finds in Christ ; he would 
desire to do his commandments. O reflect, dear 
reader, what religion will do for }^u on a dying bed ! 
Ten thousand worlds you would give, were they yours, 
that your sins were pardoned and Jesus yours. The 
christian fears not death, for he longs to be with Christ ; 
he desires not life, for it is sorrow and toil ; for the 
pleasures of earth are pitiful and poor, compared with 
the glories of heaven. 

O happy they that choose the Lord and seek 
happiness in the love of the Redeemer, for his presence 
gladdens the angels in glory. O reader, may you receive 
that grace which will make you partakers of the com- 
forts of religion ; may you possess that pure delight, 
that joy and peace which flow from humbly believing 
on Christ the Saviour ; and O may your spirit rejoice 
in him with joy unspeakable and full of glory. May 
the Lord lift upon you the light of his blessed counte- 
nance, and give you an humble assurance that he is 
your God, that you may praise him for bringing you 
from darkness to light, and from under the dominion 
of satan, to the liberty of God's children. O look by 
faith to Salem's golden tower, and see your heavenly 
mansion, and the blood-bought crown, and the robes 
of his righteousness, prepared, for those that love the 
Lord. O, brethren, may we die with faith, dis- 
cerning the loved Saviour waiting the other side of 
Jordan to welcome us home, to join the redeemed with 
songs of joy. O may our souls be transformed to de- 
light in prayer and meditation, that we may feast on 
the bread of life, and relish those heavenly delights ; 
that we may indeed have a foretaste of those joys that 
we may hereafter possess. Lord give thy people to 
drink from the fountain of which thou hast said, Whoso- 
ever drinketh of, shall never thirst again, but shall be in 
him a well of water, springing up unto eternal life. 
O may an overflowing spring of peace and joy fill 

10 



146 KEEP THE COMMANIrMENTS. 

the hearts of thy people, that their minds may be set 
on things above ; and may they look with indifference 
on the false delights of this deluded world ; and may 
they look on the pr,omises given by Christ as strength 
in weakness, and a comforter in affliction, remember- 
ing that our afflictions are but momentary ; and v/ork 
for us a far more exceeding- and eternal weight of glory. 
Then, brethren, let not your hearts be troubled, "Ye 
believe in God, believe also in me." Believe in Jesus 
your Saviour, for he hath gone to prepare a place for 
you, that where he is you may be also — a place in the 
mansions of glory. 



CHAPTER XV. 

REFLECT lOXS ON THE TRUE SEED, OR INWARD PRINCIPLE 
OF LIFE IN THE SOUL. 

The seed that is sown in the heart by the Word, or 
the true principal of life, breaks the bonds of cap- 
tivity, and brings the soul from under the power of 
sin and death. 

How many poor hearts have been overwhelmed 
with a sight of their condition, and whose spirits have 
been melted and humbled for the want of a true sense 
of their Redeemer, and have felt that peace which 
thej had formerly enjoyed broken down and laid waste, 
and their communion with the spirit lost, ready almost 
to despair, and cry out, " My soul must utterly perish ;'' 
yet w^hen the avenue of relief appears to all human 
sight closed, and the soul prostrated before God, in his 
tender mercy, this living principle is revealed in the 
heart ; this grace or seed is freely given by the Lord. 
not from any worthiness or obedience of the crea- 
ture, for this principle of life is revealed in the heart 
of the humble believer, and freely preserved, and by 
thus coming into this spirit of life, it has dominion over 
sin and death, and allures and draws the soul after the 
Lord, and perfecteth the redemption of the soul, which 
breathes after a more perfect acquaintance with the 
blessed Redeemer. 

Beloved reader, though this principle is all life to the 
soul yet it is compared to a seed, even the srnallest 
of all the seeds of the garden; very small, hard to be 
discerned, and easy to be overlooked and rejected ; yet 
the sou! must come into this lo v and humble way, and 
submit to its appearance, that this precious seed may 



148 THE TRUE PRlNCiPLE OF INWAl^ LIFE. 

spring up and be nourished in the heart that it nriay 
grow and bring forth much fruit. It is the enemy that 
prompts us to look for great things, thereby striving 
to deceive us that he may destroy the soul, and cut off 
our communion with God forever, which he will do by 
choking the seed w^ith the cares of the world and pre- 
venting its growth, if we are not on our guard. O may 
we daily watch and wait to feel the Saviour of life in 
our own hearts; earnestly craving strength suitable to 
our state ; following the Saviour in the true light, and 
he will lead us in the way of life. Oh may you 
w^atch against the reasonings and disputings of the 
enemy, which will rise in the mind, for he is ever striv- 
ing to overcome and lead the spirit into darkness, and 
set up his judgment against the light of truth in thee. 
But cleave thou close to the Lord, that thou mayest 
taste and feel the Lord's annointings, and the peace 
and joy of his kingdom that is set up in your hearts, 
and he will blot out all our transgressions for his name- 
sake, and nourish the seed which he hath planted in 
us, for he knoweth our frailty, and the tempter's power 
over us; how he strives to lead us into captivity; he 
pitieth us with loving compassion : the spirit is will- 
ing but the flesh is weak ; yet his power delivers us 
from the snare of our enemy. 

Dear believer, be subject to, and bow under the light 
that you already have, and take care not to limit the 
Lord, nor judge of his comings, but improve the grace 
already given, which shineth into your own hearts ; for 
clearness of understanding in godliness, is a state at 
which the believer may arrive ; but before we can 
arrive at this state, the natural or creaturely understand- 
ing, must be confounded, and brought to naught before 
you can have this perfect understanding, according 
to the state and growth of this spiritual life : for the 
natural mind will be continually overclouding 
and overbearing this pure seed, and will prevail 
unless you watch unto prayer, and keep under its 



THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF INWARD LIFE, 149 

holy teachings, for the movings of the spirit is to con- 
found the knowledge and understanding of the creature, 
especially those that are wise in their own estima- 
tion ; and overlooking and' rejecting the precious 
seed. Man's knowledge, and reasoning, and compre- 
hension must be set at naught, and he must be brought 
into that child-like submission, desiring to be led and 
taught, and created anew in Christ Jesus. 

O sinner, return to the Father's house out of that 
prodigal state, where there is a sufficiency of the 
true bread and to spare ; yea, a sufficiency of bread 
and water of life to satisfy every hungry and thirsty 
soul. This bread, or seed, is the spiritual life, whereby 
we must be renewed in Christ, and born of the spirit 
of the living God, and receive the son as our Saviour, 
and feel him revealed in us by the light of truth. 

Reader, rest not with the outward form ot religion, 
nor with a historical discription of things, but feel and 
know for yourself, which knowledge you can have 
through the spirit, the inward teacher, that teaches as 
never man taught. You may turn and read all the des- 
criptions of this spiritual life, that have been so ably set 
forth by the primitive christians, and all the experience 
of believers in the present age: it will avail you nothing, 
lor the soul that would live by him, must receive him 
and experience the engrafting into the true vine, by 
the living word of God's eternal power, and this w^ord 
must be engrafted into, the heart, so that there is a be- 
coming one in nature and spirit, partaking of the vir- 
tue and sap of the vine, walking not in the oldness of 
the letter, but in newness of the spirit. St. Paul, not- 
withstanding all his knowledge of the scriptures, walk- 
ed but in the oldness of the letter, until he received 
this seed, or until Christ was revealed in him; and all 
those who in the apostle's day had the form of 
godliness, but understood not the power, walked 
but in the oldness of the letter; yea, the church of 
Sardis for the most part, and the church of Lacedonia, 



150 THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF INWARD LIFE. 

they had received the right order and the true description 
of things, and though they were full and rich, and 
wanted nothing, they too walked but according to the 
oldness of the letter, and not in the newness and power 
of life. 

Alas! alas! how many now, in this our day of 
gospel-light and truth, walk in the oldness of the letter, 
and have only a historical description of the light of 
life, or profess to know^ Christ, to honor him with the 
lips while the heart is destitute of this inward principle. 

Are these led by the spirit of truth, or can they 
possibly understand the growth of that living princi- 
ple ? Is there any appearance of a growth of that 
precious seed in their hearts ? Surely not ! They 
receive not the light of truth but in their own planning, 
and all such are in darkness, let them proiess what 
they may, and grow^ ever so high in the estimation of 
the w^orld ; they are but blind leaders of the blind, and 
by thus stepping at random, shall most assuredly fall 
into the ditch, yea, pit of endless w^oe. Oh! that men 
would cherish the true seed, cultivate the principle of 
life, and lay their souls' peace at heart, for no man 
can knov^ Christ but by the spirit, for he that knoweth 
not the spirit rightly, knoweth not Christ. It is truly 
said, that the heart of man is deceitful above all things 
and desperately wicked, and no man of himself can 
understand it ; but that man in whom the seed of life is 
planted and is nourished, it bringeth forth fruit unto 
holiness : these have received Christ, and are taught by 
him daily, and advance in the truth, and the works of 
the adversary in them being destroyed and cleansed by 
the living of the spirit, which is the destroyer of 
Satan and all his kingdom. 

Read the holy word of God, that you may see that 
the veil is removed that hung over the minds of the 
old world ; this veil is dane away in Christ ; then read 
the revelation of God's will to man with an unveiled 
eye; read in the holy annointings of God's spirit, for 



THE TBUE PRINCIPLE OF INWARD LIFE. 151 

ae hath said that he would take away the face of the 
covering from the face of all people. Oh ! may this 
promise be fulfilled in you, that you may read and un- 
derstand ! Oh ! that its holy mysteries may be unlocked 
to your minds by the key of David, but if you are not 
born of the spirit, the veil still remaineth and you 
know but little of the scriptures, nor the power of God, 
and you understand nothing aright ; you have no 
knowledge but your own, you are destitute of that faith, 
hope, and peace that flow from the fountain of truth. 
O Lord send out thy light and thy truth, let them 
lead me, let them bring me to thy holy hill and to thy 
tabernacle. David himself did not kno v how to go to 
the hill and tabernacle of God, without a particular 
light and truth from God to lead him thither, ^-md all 
that have received this light can go to the altar of God 
with joy, and receive the fulfilling of the promises, 
and share mercies which belong to Christ, who is the 
true seed, and to them that abide in him, who is the 
new covenant. The scriptures reveal many things 
pointing to this covenant, which is Christ w^ithin the 
hope of glory, for he leadeth captivity captive, and 
stayeth up those that keep their habitation on God's 
holy mountain. Here is the covenant witnessed by the 
power and virtue revealed ; for Christ hath reigned in 
righteousness, love, mercy and truth, in the hearts of 
those who are redeemed out of the earthly nature, so 
that they can sing of Moses and the Lamb, that hath 
redeemed us irom the bondage of sin and death. This 
light is a reprover of sin, and makes it manifest and 
clear to the mind, and cries awake, thou that sleepest, 
arise from the dead ; and Christ will give thee light. 
There is no other way of awaking out of our lethargic 
slumber but by this light, for its piercing rays pene- 
trate the dark abodes of the heart, and operate Uvingly 
and pow^erfully in the heart, bringing out the impure, 
unclean principle of man, and implanting another nature 
which is wrought by God's spirit, bringing him out of 



152 THE TRUE PRINClPIiE OF INWARD LIFE. 

his impure, sinful state, into a spiritual and holy way ; 
for the light hath shined in darkness, and the darkness 
comprehended it not, making the whole man pure and 
holy like the fountain. When a man becomes changed 
from his impure and unholy state, and is born anew in 
Christ Jesus, and becomes acquainted WMth this living 
principle, he can distmguish the nature and operations 
of both which are opposite each other, yet satan strives 
to deceive and entice the mind after his own way, yet the 
child of God can discern the difference between truth in 
its own pure principle, and the reasoning of the adver- 
sary, for it is powerful in the one and affects little in 
the other ; for that humble soul that is regenerated and 
enjoys this pure light of life, perceives the enemy's 
craft and knows his movings, which gradually disap- 
pear as the soul stands firm. Then let us all be on 
our guard, and retire from this reasoning spirit, and 
C9me to the hving fountain in ourselves, having our 
understanding opened that we may receive and under- 
stand, and retain the things of the true spirit, for we 
stand in alienation to God and the natural principle in 
man ; his thoughts, his desires, his understanding are in 
opposition to this pure light, it is wholly contrary to 
man's own will. As I have above stated, he must not 
consult this reasoning spirit,but prefer and adhere to the 
light of Christ's spirit above all others, and turn wholly 
from them forever. 

Dear reader, are you ready to say this is hard to 
come at, who can ba-e it? Surely none are able but 
those that are brought to this saving knowledge, and 
are taught of the spirit. These can come cheerfully 
to give up to follow the Saviour through all his lead- 
ings, for '' The law of the Lord is perfect, converting 
or restoring the soul." Was it the law of works in 
the hand of Moses, or is it the law of faith in the 
hands of God ? Yea, doth not Christ enlighten every 
man that cometh into the world, and would not God 
have every man to be sared ? And doth he not give 



THE TRUE PIlI^'CIPLE OF INWARD LIFE. 153 

freely unto all opposition of light, whereby they may 
be saved ? Yet it is not the property of this light to 
convert to God but to reprove for sin ; yet no man 
can be united to this light, without having a new na- 
tur?. Can anything change the heart and convert the 
soul to God but Christ ? Can Christ and this true 
light be separated, or can any one receive this light 
and be united to it, and not receive Christ ? O that 
the hearts of the children of men were opened by the 
spirit of the Lord, then they would receive the truth 
with joy, even so the stone was rejected and despised 
amongst the builders for want of a true understanding ; 
but with them that have received the light, it is elect 
and precious, chosen of God, and precious in the 
eye of the believer. 

Now, dear reader, this does not exclude or make 
void anything that Christ did while here on earth for 
our justification, nor in heaven for our redemption, but 
brings us into an heirship, or into a possession and en- 
joyment of his purchase, for we are bought not with 
silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ ; 
but all that walk in darkness have nothing to do with 
Christ and his light, no matter what they may possess, 
no matter what hopes they may feed themselves 
up with, it is a delusion, and Christ will say, depart, 
I know ye not. But those that walk in Christ, 
have a right and share in all that he hath wrought for 
us. These are truths that every believer can hold forth 
as steadfast, sealed to them by experience, and no 
man can enjoy the comforts of religion unless he de- 
nies himself, takes up his cross, the cross against his 
own wisdom and will, which cross is the cross of 
Christ, which is the power of God to the salvation of 
the soul. 

Dear reader, if you will take up this cross daily, and 
wait upon the Lord, you shall witness the power of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, to the redemption of youi soul ; 
you shall be able with a true understanding, to know 



154 THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF INWARD LIFE. 

the light, the true light, life and power of the Lord ; 
you may realize the strength of that arn) of power, 
that can deliver you from sin and loose tlie bonds of 
the enemy and drive him before you, delivering you 
from his captivity when none else could; when y?)ur 
strength failed, and you were as nothing before hini, 
you can call on Christ and his power will be revealed : 
for he is the power and life forever, and besides him 
there is none that can redeem. 

It is no hard matter for a man to take up any reli- 
ofion that he mav find afloat in the world ; to read the 
scriptures and believe what he may find related there, 
according to his understanding of them as historical. 
But here is the hard point to arrive at: to read, and 
apply himself to practice those things he reads, and 
observe all the requirings, craving the light and help 
of the spirit that he may understand them, for this quali- 
fication or capacity must be, and is a principle of life 
from God. This principle is the seed of the kingdom, or 
that heavenlv leaven with which the understandins; 
must be brought into before it can receive the truth, 
which is the true light in which all spiritual things are 
received — faith, love, sanctification, justification, true 
peace and joy ; and whatsoever is not of these is not of 
the true light, but a fig-leaf garment of men's own form- 
ino;, and not the coverinof of Christ's rio;hteousness : for in 
this principle the new covenant is made with the soul, 
and entered into. He that receives this principle from 
the hand of God, receives life, and enters into the cove- 
nant of life, wherein God cleanseth the heart, and so 
being dead with Christ, and risen with him, and changed 
into his holy nature by the true principle, which is of 
him through the power and spirit of Christ, that work- 
eth in us, so that it is our meat and drink, yea my great 
delight to do thy w^ill, O God — yea, thy law is written 
on my heart ! O how many deceive themselves ; for 
many things are received for truth with men in their 
own way, which w^ill vanish like smoke before the 



THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF INWARD LIFE. 155 

light of day. Alas ! what will become of those who 
are thus deceived, and have not the wedding garment 
on, and are not clothed with the spotless righteousness 
of Christ, but only a righteousness of their own ? " De- 
part ye cursed into everlasting fire," for all religion, 
ways and worship are vain, and the spirit witnesseth 
against it, but Christ revealed in the soul, is a standard 
against the corrupt nature, and is revealed to man by 
believing, and obeying, and waiting in holy fear ; for he 
that doeth my will shall know my doctrine, saith 
Christ — this is the way. O w^aiting soul, wouldst thou 
know what God requireth of thee ? O mind the holy 
light in the mind, the inward movings of the divine 
principle, that will make manifest to thee thy state. 
Thou mayest have trials, opposition and temptations 
to pass through ; for turning the back on the kingdom 
of darkness, and adiiering to the true principle of life ; 
for the power of darkness attracts the soul, both 
within and without, to hinder its progress in the 
divine life, and to bring it again into subjection to the 
will of the flesh. O what secret and subtle reasonings 
the enemy doth invent to again ensnare and entangle 
the mind ; but if he cannot succeed in drawing the 
soul from the living way, his next aim is to afflict and 
torment it. i here is none that knows the craft of the 
enemy but those that are watching their own footsteps, 
and fearful they might miss the path, being fully ap- 
prised of their danger. These are often sensible of 
what they meet with on the way in their journey. 
They learn how to abide in the path of salvation, for 
the truth of that saying is stamped on their minds, "If 
the righteous scarcely be saved, where must the care- 
less and disobedient appear.'' 

Truly the apostle hath said, through much tribula- 
tion is the entrance of the soul into the heavenly king- 
dom ; then there is no avoiding these tribulations, yet 
there is a reward to those that endure these tribula- 
tions ; yea, a glorious crown prepared for all those that 



156 THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF INWARD LIFE. 

hear the voice of the Lamb, and abide faithful to the 
end. There is not only a crown laid up for them in 
the father's kingdom, but the power of the Lord is 
nigh to deliver them, and bear them up through all 
difficulties ; for his tender mercies and powerful arm 
hath and will still be revealed in their behalf; for the 
power of the Lord began the work of redemption, so 
the same power alone will carry it on and perfect it, 
although the powers of darkness strive to stand between 
the soul and the Lord. Did not a stronger povvcr ap- 
pear and bind the strong man and cast him out ? The 
terms of perfecting this great work, is the giving up 
the soul in faith to God, thereby receiving a sense of 
his love, goodness and mercy, by hearkening to the 
voice of the Lord. 

Now what has man to boast of, who is thus redeem- 
ed from under the power of darkness, and gathered 
into the spirit of the Lord ? for the light convicteth, the 
Lord began the v/ork, and his power accompanies the 
spirit and carries him through, or he must fall ; for no 
man can stand any longer than he submits and be- 
lieves — ^just so long as he is held up by the power of 
the Lord. 

Then let the man that boasteth, bring forth some- 
thing of his own, if he can. Is the will at his command, 
^t any time ? Or doth not the christian always find 
God to work in him to will and to do, w-hen he desires 
rightly, and craves spiritual aid ? Then if we cannot 
have the will of our own begetting, how can we do 
any thing of ourselves ? Can we believe at pleasure ? 
Is not faith the gift of God ? Can we wait on the 
Lord in an' acceptable manner of ourselves ? Can we 
resist the tempter ? Nay, verily. All our help must 
come from God ; we cannot pray, nor cast a look at 
the hills from whence our help must come, but by his 
grace; and in that life there is sufficiency of strength ; 
for he that is joined to the Lord becomes one, in spirit, 
with him — can do all things through Christ ; for he is 



THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF INWARD LIFE. 157 

born anew in him ; and Christ by his spirit ariseth, 
lives, and acts in him. I am persuaded that every one 
that is born of the spirit, will acknowledge this to be 
truth, not only to man, but in heart before the Lord. 

Then, dear reader, I have endeavored to show you 
the inward principle of life in the soul. Will you seri- 
ously contemplate the importance of this weighty sub- 
ject ? f r it reaches beyond the bounds of earthly things . 
Read the sacred truths of holy writ, and see if it is not 
based on the true principle there revealed. Delay no 
time; for time to you may be short, and religion is an 
important blessing; and in the end, no earthly bles- 
sings can supply its place ; were the whole w^orld ours, 
it could not give real peace, not even in life; it could 
not calm the troubles of a guilty conscience ; it 
could not ease the racking pain, nor i?ive support on a 
dying bed ; nor make your peace with God. You may 
possess friends endeared and affectionate — they cannot 
stay the torturing disease, nor cheer your trembling 
soul when brought before your injured God ; for all 
the world must stand at his awful bar ; and if we have 
not adhered to this principle of life within, naught can 
rescue us from that dreadful sentence — ''depart from 
me ye cursed." We must experience this light, to 
illuminate our pathway ; or in other w^ords, w^e must be 
born again, or we cannot enter heaven. Without this, 
inward principle, God wall look upon us with abhor- 
rence ; for he hath declared to hate all workers of in- 
iquity. — Psalms V : 5. 

And to make a mere profession of religion to deceive 
man, or to be popular in the world, would make you 
like a whited sepulchre — fair without, but within full 
of uncleanness ; but if your nature were renewed, and 
the light of life beaming in your soul, by the divine 
image, happy would you be ; for your name is written 
in the Lamb's book of life, and you have the promise 
that you shall possess those mansions not made with 
hands, and wear orowns of glory that shall never fade. 



158 THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF INWARD LIFE. 

O believer, had we but a ^limp?€ of the glorified 
saints that dwell in the presence of the Lord, would 
we not wait with anxiety for the message, that w^e might 
fly to the Saviour ; that we might spend a blessed eter- 
nity in singing his praise. 

O then, dear reader, count all things lost, that you 
may w^n Christ and be found in him ; not having your 
own righteousness as yo* r trust ; but the principle of 
life, which is bv laith in ChriU. . ' 

O be wise: devote your time to God; remember 
eternity — eternity, how endless its duration! none on 
earth can describe it, nor none comprehend it. O may 
you view life as fast passing, and eternity in view ; 
may your chief object be in this world to glorify God, 
and gain everlasting rest. Reflect on the many, in 
every age of the world, that have slighted the bound- 
less love and mercy of God, and rejected the light ; or 
as Felix, are not quite ready to give up their darling 
sins. And now, of what little advantage are all those 
trifles ; yet they prevented them from embracing the 
principles of truth, and now it is too late. What are all 
the splendor and pleasures of this world, to their im- 
mortal souls ? It is lost, and that forever. You can- 
not enjoy this world long at best ; its pleasures are but 
momentary ; but with Christ, you may possess an eter- 
nity of endless joy — yea, ages in succession may roll 
away, and vast eternity glide on, yet not one sigh will 
escape their lips, nor iear cross the mind ; but one con- 
tinual scene of joy, ever rising to the sight. 

How bright are the prospects of those that are con- 
verted to Christ ; their hopes are fixed on the mansions 
of bliss in the kingdom of our God. O may you pos- 
sess that faith that you may welcome the coming of 
the Lord, though at an unexpected hour, for our stay 
here is very uncertain ; yea momentary. 

A knowledge of this principle implanted in the heart, 
produces veneration for the Divine being, and love to 
him as the object the soul delights in, with an humble 



THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF IWVARD LIFE. 159 

reliance in his mercy and promises, and a persevering 
obedience to his word. The advantages this knowledge 
produces are indescribably great. It forms the basis 
of true honor and permanent happiness. Not the rep- 
utation of a noble descent ; not all the influence of for- 
tune, nor the laurels of vetran heroism can dignify the 
^ou\ that is destitute of this inward principle. O for a 
moment consider its inherent v/orth ! Becoming 
acquainted with this pure principle we become 
acquainted with • God — the blessed sovereign of the 
universe, the creator of the world — who taketh up the 
Isles- as a very little thing, and measureth the hills in a 
balance. To become acquainted with the author of 
our being, how desirable ! It will afford comfort in the 
hours oi distress, and reflect honor in the most abject 
poverty, and be a ray of light in the hermit's cottage ; it 
will teach us how to improve our time and talents ; 
teach us how to comfort our distressed brethren, and 
how to instruct and advise them, so that our light may 
shine, that God may be glorified. O this pure inward 
principle has the greatest influence upon society, and 
prompts us to set our aflfections on things above. The 
influence of this principle will calm the rage of the 
persecutor and melt his heart to love. 

Reader, may you cultivate this heavenly principle, 
may its treasures be hid in your hearts, and you be 
led by its teachings, while here on earth, until you join 
the company of those whose robes are washed in 
Jesus' blood. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST CLEANSETII FHOM ALL SIN, 
WHICH IS THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 

The blessed Redeemer look not upon himself the 
nature of angels, but our human nature, that he might 
redeem those who had sinned, and satisfy offended 
justice. Was it not necessary that Christ should 
take upon himself human nature, that he might expe- 
rience its frailty, and understand our temptations and 
infirmities, and become a merciful high priest, and an 
intercessor for us ? This body was a prepared body, 
in which he might do the will of the Father, and 
offer to God, an acceptabJe sacrifice for the sins of the 
whole world. In him lay the value and w^orth of im- 
mortal souls ; he became obedient unto death, even the 
death of the cross. He, through the blessed and eter- 
nal spirit, offered himself without spot to God ; and 
died for the sins of the world : was he not the arm of 
power, through God, that brought salvation to the 
children of men. 

And at the name of Jesus every knee should bow% 
and every tongue confess : This is the name that the 
angel gave to Mary. And the body that God prepar- 
ed for him, hath its nature and properties. He was 
the Word from the beginning, or Son of God, the Holy 
Spotless Lamb, and Fountain of Life and Innocence, 
who was appointed of the Father, to offer up the ac- 
ceptable sacrifice, 

This flesh and blood of the body, which was prepar- 
ed for, and taken by him, wherein he tabernacled this 
flesh and blood, which we are to partake of, whereof 
we are to be formed anew ; which we are to eat and 



THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 161 

drink, and is to the soul meat and drink indeed, and 
nourisheth to everlasting life. 

Was not that which he took upon our garment — even 
the flesh and bloorl of our frail human nature — which is 
of an earthly perishing nature, united to an all-powerful 
and eternal nature ? Now the life and nature which are 
begotten through him in us is a spiritual and an eternal 
nature. He is the bread of life which came down from 
heaven. It was not the outward flesh and blood that 
came down, but the inward bread which the heavenly 
birth feeds on and is nourished by ; for that which re- 
deems and is of the Saviour — who came down from 
heaven and took upon himself a body of flesh here on 
earth ; in which nature he manifested himself as King, 
Priest and Prophet, and accomplished the works that 
God appointed him to do — even to bring salvation to 
a lost world. 

Now brethren, that which saves, that which hath 
the virtue and power of salvation, that the eye of faith is 
fixed upon, is Jesus. It was Jesus that humbled himself, 
and made himself of no reputation — took upon him- 
self the form of a servant — made in the likeness of 
man — formed and fashioned as man. Glorified of the 
Father before the world was, and to him all the honor 
and glory belongeth, for at the name of Jesus every 
knee shall bow. 

Does not the reward belong to him who laid aside 
his glory, to take the body of flesh, and bear the per- 
secution of men, that he might honor, glorify, and 
fulfill the will of the Father ? Then he that ^ancltifieth, 
and they that are sanctified, are one — Christ in us and 
we in hirr. Thus, he is not ashamed, but condescend- 
eth to call us brethren, because that nature is begotten 
in us which is spiritual, and that life that flows from 
the Father ; for that which is born of the spirit is spirit, 
from which we are the children of God, and have the 
relation with Christ from that spiritual birth : the name 
of Christ was from the holy annointing, which took 

11 



162 THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 

place in the body, and ran into and filled the vessel or 
body. 

JN'ow, dear reader, to put on Christ the Saviour, is 
to clothe yourself with a firm belief concerning him, 
according to scriptural authority, for the souls of those 
that aie borne from above, are clothed with the right- 
eousness of Christ as the body is \^ ith a garment. 

Christ said, " I am the resurrection and the life.'* 
Was this delivered concerning the body, or was it con- 
cerning the power and virtue, begotten of the Father 
in the body, and had it the power of this spiritual life 
while it was in the body ? for he could raise up not only 
other bodies, but that also which is laid down ; for after 
this frail body^s laid in the tomb, he could raise it up, 
and take it on again as well as he did at first when it 
was prepared. 

Dear brethren, if we have felt the saving arm of the 
Lord revealed in us, and have received a measure of 
the same life, power, snd holy annointing ii our ves- 
sels, it is of Christ, for he is the seed of life which is 
sown in the heart, which will spring up and grow in 
us in a spiritual form, though we may be but babes in 
Christ ; for it is Christ the hope of glory formed in the 
soul. Thus we are engrafted into Christ, the true 
vine or olive-tree ; thus the believer grows up into 
Christ the living head, for he that knowelh the Son 
knoweth the Father, and he that knoweth the spirit 
knoweth the Son, and he that abideth in the spirit 
abideth in the Son, for they are one; their nature, 
their life and virtue are inseparable. Christ saith, "I 
find the Father are one, I am in the Father and the 
Father in me. 

Now the Lord of glory is that living and blessed 
spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is lib- 
erty. The Father sent his Son into the vsorld, not to 
condemn the world. He sent his Son, and yet he was 
with and in him ; and as the Son sendeth his spirit, so 
he is wMth, and his power accompanies the spirit. It is 
the Father's will that the honor should be given to the 



THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 163 

Son, for Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with 
the Father : and he that would worship the Father nnust 
worship the Sori; and approach the Father through him ; 
and he that would come to Christ, must come to him 
in spirit, and worship him in spirit, and bow to him in 
spirit ; for the Bridegroom went away in the flesh, or 
in body, that he might come again in spirit, and send 
the Comforter. 

The apostles that followed Jesus on earth, and knew 
him in fiis sorrowful travel through life, knew him when 
he appeared in spirit after the resurrection, and they 
were filled with joy, because of the appearance of the 
Saviour. 

O how many, dear hearts, know the Man Child. 
Christ Jesus — born and brought forth in spirit, as truly 
and as sensibly as was ever born naturally ! How 
many can truly testify concerning the spiritual and 
inward appearance of the Bridegroom ; for they re- 
ceived from him the true understanding which he gives 
in and by his spirit. O that the Lord would daily add 
to the number, that they might receive the measure of 
life from H"m, which the Father hath allotted, and be 
washed in the lava of regeneration ; that the soul may 
be v/ashed in the pure water whereof a man is made 
new— washed in the water that ran from the side of 
the blessed Redeemer, which was pierced with the 
soldier's spear— wnich is the v/ater of life, and flow^eth 
from the spirit ; which purifies and cleanses th- soul, 
and refreshes and gladdens that heart that drinketh 
thereof This is that water that whosoever drinketh 
thereof shall never thirst again, but is continually 
springing up to eternal life. This water flows from the 
pure river, clear as crystal, and proceeds from the 
throne. 

Brethren, can outward washing cleanse the soul ? 
Nay verily. But in obedience to the ordinance of 
baptism, outward sprinkling or w^ashing can heal the 
conscience and free it from condemnation. O ye that 
have felt the blood of sprinkling from the Lord upon 



164 THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 

your conscience,, and are cleansed thereby, was it 
not an inward washing ? 

Moses, according to the law, sprinkled with blood 
both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 
And almost all things are, by the law, purged with 
blood ; and without shedding of blood, is no remission. 
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things 
in the heavens should be purified with these ; but the 
heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than 
these. — Hebrews, ix : 21, 22, 23. Then it required the 
sacrifice of Christ — the flesh and blood within the veil. 
Dear reader, was it the outward flesh and blood of the 
outward, or first Adam, which Christ took upon him- 
self, or the flesh nnd blood of the second Adam's nature ? 
It was the obedience of the second Adam, that the 
Father required of the Son. This sacrifice fulfilled the 
law, satisfied Divine justice, and cleanseth the hearts 
of all that are found in him. — Romans, v: 19. Sacri- 
fice and offering and burnt-offerings and offering for 
sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein ; 
which are oflfered by the law. Lo, I come to do thy 
will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may 
establish the second. By the which will we are sanc- 
tified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ 
once for all. — Hebrews, x: 8, 9 10. 

The substance of this blood o! cleansing is the 
anointing of Christ. The life, the obedience of the 
Son of God, is the thing that is of value in us, which 
the Lord from heaven begeteth in his own image and 
likeness, by his own spirit and life. Here the robes of 
the believer are washed and made white in the blood 
of the Lamb. We can have fellowship w^ith Christ in 
no other may but by having the fleshy nature crucified 
and subdued, by the power of the holy spirit ; for we 
are to lay aside the old nature and all its deeds, and 
put on the new man, which is inward and spiritual. 

O dear rej?der, stumble no longer against the truth. 
Is it not the flesh and blood of the word that cleanseth ? 
Was not the word made flesh and dwelt amongst us, 



THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 165 

and caused the light of His blessed truth to shine through 
these earthly vessels ? Read the Scriptures and re- 
ceive the pure doctrina of the word, that you may ex- 
perience the fulfilling of the promise, and adorn your- 
self with the garment of hohness and righteousness, 
which is yours. O trample no longer under foot 
the commandments, nor count the blood of the cove- 
nant an unholy thing. How happy is that man that 
has experienced the holy anointing, and is born anew, 
for he knows the mystery of the word, and stumbleth 
not about the expressions of others, vvhose minds are 
darkened by the ignorance that is in themselves. The 
religion of Christ was to the Jews a stumbling block, 
and to the Greeks foolishness ; but to all that believe 
the power of God to the salvation of the soul, this pure 
true religion has been a mystery. The apostle Paul 
was made an able minister of the new covenant ; not 
of the letter, but of the spirit, which was the mystery ; 
and he endured great persecution to bring people to 
the blessed knowledge of this mystery ; for he was sent 
to unfold this mystery, and turn men from darkness to 
light, and from the power of satan unto God — for this 
great mystery is the excellency of the knowledge of 
Christ ; for it is nothing short of life eternal, which is 
inwardly revealed by God in the heart, subduing all 
self-righteousness, by the virtue of the blood or power 
of Christ's death and resurrection, which is revealed 
and experienced in this mystery. 

Christ saith " He that eateth my flesh and drinketh 
my blood, dwelleth in me and I in him ;" this indeed is 
the mystery of religion dwelling in each other; for it is 
the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing : 
'' The words that I speak to you are spirit and life.'' In 
this he represents the soul's food or heavenly bread. In 
this mystery is the cleansing virtue. The spirit, the 
vv^ater, and the blood, inwardly sprinkled, are poured by 
the father into the soul. Did not God promise in the 
covenant of grace to sprinkle clean water upon his Israel, 
that they might be clean. And again he said, "I will 



166 THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 

pour water on him that is thirsty, and flo els upon the 
dry ground ; yea, the Hve coal from the holy altar shall 
purity and take away the iniquities ol' men. 

How great the love of God to man. How wonderful 
and glorious the appearance and manifestation of the 
Son. How submissive and precious his holy obedience 
to the requirings ot the law^ How humbling the thought 
of his submiuing himself to the death of the cross for 
sinners, thereby presenting a spotless sacrifice, and 
one ol infi ite value. O brethren, may our hearts be 
melted in the depths of humility before the Lord, that 
our sins are torgiven through faith in his blood. Praise 
the Lord lor giving up his son to die for us ; and that 
all that believe have power to partake of his meritori- 
ous sacrifice. 

Did not God in the days of the prophets, promise to 
make a feast of fat things on his holy mountain, and 
that he would destroy the face of the covering that 
was cast over all nations or people, and remove the 
veil that is now spread over all nations ?— Lsaih,xxj : 6, 7. 

There was a Mount Zion under the law, which w^as 
figurative of the Mount Zion under the Gospel, where- 
unto the christians in the apostles, who were called of 
God and sanctified, came to this Mount Zion, and the 
City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem ; these 
had fellowship with God and with the spirit. Jesus is 
the mediator of the new covenant, and in him the veil 
is done away, for he is the hght (>f men ; the life, 
strength, and righteousness, for the glory of the Lord 
is shown forth in Jesus Christ, whereby w^e are changed 
into his sv\eet heavenly imap;e from glory to glory. 
How many in this day, own the apostle's testimony and 
comply with the outward requirements of religion, yet 
lack a knowledge oi" this sr)iri\ual woik ; they come 
not to the Holy Mountain ; the veil is still over their 
faces; neither come they to the feast of fat things. 
These may dream of eating spiritually, but know not 
what it is to (eed on the living bread, which satisfieth. 
Therefore, the mystery of religion has covered their 



THE HIDDEN 3IYSTERY. 167 

minds, so that they know nothing of the redeeming 
power for it is hid iVom their eyes 

O for that saving laith that gives us the victory 
over the enemy, and that boldness to resist him in al! 
his attempts, and strength from the Lord to tread him 
under foot. O for the light of truth tj direct our path- 
way, and a knowledge ot our redeemer, to Hberate us 
from captivity, that we may walk in the spirit and 
light of the Lord ! Here is the mystery of godliness 
revealed, and the veil taken away, and a right under- 
standing of the truths of the scriptures laid open, and 
power given the sons of G; d. 

O thai men would really believe in their hearts that 
Christ came in the fullness of time, in tl;e prepared 
body, to do the will of the Father. Believe his mira- 
cles, sufferings, death and resurrection according to 
scripture ; how changed would be the aspeci of things, 
for there is no true knowledge of Christ ; no knowledge 
that hath this saving and eternal virtue in it, but what 
is revealed by God through his faith in Him, which is 
the gift of grace, for Jesus Christ is the son of God, 
that infinitely holy bemg, one with the Father, and 
with the blessed spirit, which cannot be separated. — 
Omniscient and ( mnipresent, ihe Father in Him, and 
He in the Fatlier ; for he said to Philip, '' He that hath 
seen me hatii seen the Father." O brethren, examine 
whether you have a saving knowledge of Christ, lest 
vou receive t .e shadow and mis the substance ; for 
there is no earthly affection or understanding that sat- 
isfieth the soul; it longeth after the true knowledge or 
substance of the spirit, which can alone nourish it. 

That man that knoweth not Christ in spirit, though 
he may profess him in the letter, denies him in truth ; 
fi)r he rejects him in his visitations in the heart ; such 
he will deny before his father in h aven. 

O, dear reader, 1 beseech you do not trifle with these 
great and njighty matters, lest you perish for ever, for 
by rejecting these you mis salvation. O that you could 
see your state as you stand in the sight of God. 



168 THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 

Shall all I have said, dear reader, be in vain ? Let me 
urge you before I leave you for ev3r, to consider the 
merits of the death of Christ. O consider, without an 
application of its merits, the awful scene to which you 
are fast hastening, is indescrib-^ble. You may enjoy 
the pleasures of this world, and doat on its riches and 
honors; you may live to enjoy many gay scenes, but 
what are all these? you may pass many years in this 
world, yet the longest term is but short — it passeth" 
away as a dream, and death soon overtakes the travel- 
er here : yea, you must die : your time may be spent 
thoughtless of death and eternity, yet they advance 
nearer and still nearer every moment. 

The years roll round and steal away. 

The breath that first it gave ; 
Where'er we be, whjtt'er we do. 

We're hastening to the grave. 

But if you live without God, you must die without 
him. Reflect upon the awful scene, to die without 
Christ! Alas, vain man, methinks the starting prayer 
w^ould burst from that troubled heart, long concealed 
and locked up by pride and unbeliel. O that I could 
live till my sins w^re forgiven: but the messenger has 
come, and now it is too late. O that 1 had come to 
Christ when he called, and accepted mercy at the hand 
of the Saviour; tut, alas, I have refused, and sined 
against so merciful a Saviour. 

Reader, if you continue to trample upon the blood 
of Christ, and reject his saving grace, your departure 
from time, may be a scene of horror and despair. O 
then, if you w^ant your last moments to be peace, and 
escape the awful end of the sinner, forsake his ways, 
and tread no longer in the path of vice ; consider the 
awful consequence of making light of a dying Saviour. 
Better would it be while in health, to prepare for eter- 
nity ; better will it be to think of those sins that would 
damn the soul, before you experience the awful reality 
of the wages of sin, that renders the soul undone for 



THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 169 

ever. O what folly and madness, to refuse the blood 
of Christ that cleanselh from all sin, and choose dam- 
nation, and walk in the road that leads to hell. Listen, 
I pray you, no longer to the whispers of that seducing 
enemy that desires to lead you to ruin : he may pro- 
mise much pleasure in a course of wickedness; his 
craft is to lead you into sin still further, and keep you 
blind to your present condition. O such are the stra- 
tagems of satan, that he may capture the soul and 
drag it into eternal pain. When the tempter smiles, 
and entices you to sin, ask yourself w^ill this trans- 
<yression not incur the ang:er of the Lord ? O how 
can I bare the displeasure of my gracious Redeemer ; 
how dare I to tread upon the blood of Christ, and 
endure everlasting burning! 

Dear reader, if you have not a knowledge of this 
precious blood applied to your heart, turn to the 15th 
chap, of Luke, meditate on the state of the prodigal. 
In frolic and mirth he squanders his wealth, which sinks 
him in the most degraded condition. What comfort 
now are all his vain companions, his sports and frolics,. 
and feasts by day and by night ? They are fled and 
gone, and onlv serve to torture and harrass the mind. 
He looks back on the past with bitter remorse ; he 
looks to the future with dread and horror ; hunger 
prays upon his vitals, and he has naught to satisfy its 
keen demands ; he fain would have fed on the husks of 
which the swine did eat, but no man gave to him. 
Young man, how many, by a life of folly, have been 
sunk into the deepest degredation ; you may drink of 
the cup of worldly pleasure ; and it appear delicious to 
your taste, but it is full of poison, and will, ere long, 
bring sighs from that merry heart, and tears of bitter 
grief from those eyes, now swiming in pleasure ; for, by 
it you have slighted your day of grace, offended your 
God, grieved tiie spirit, and refused the blood of 
sprinkling. Reader, have you not a consciousness that 
this is truth, and that you can never have peace, nor 
enjoy real happiness until you give your heart to Christ, 



170 THE IHDDEN MYSTERY. 

It is impossible for me to lay before you the sorrows 
attendant on a life of disobedience 'to the calls of 
mercy. The fi'uits of a life of sin are, many times, 
wretchedness, misery and ruin, even in this world, 
w^hich is of but little consequence, lo the sorrow and 
misery of a death of sin in that eternal state. O how 
dreadful to die without a Saviour and launch into a 
world of woe, without one ray of iiope to cheer the des- 
ponding soul ! Millions upon millions of years may still 
glide on, and no niitigation to the inflicting horrors of 
woe — no nearer the end of your torments. 

O who cnn dwell on the word eternity, without awe ! 
Avoid indulging in anything that will lead you to sin ; 
small crimes make way fur still greater. Bi'eaking the 
Sibbath in small things, may lead to numberless 
crimes; and it is a sorrowful truth, that it is a common 
sin of the world. A d O, how sad its fruits ! How 
many have looked back, and expressed this to be the 
first step that led to crime. Avoid as much as possi- 
ble the company of the vain and irreligious, the sab- 
bath-breaker, the swearer, and the drunkard, for they 
lead to temporal and eternal ruin. Intemperance 
entails diseases of the body, impoverishes the wealthy, 
beggars the widow and orphan children. Look 
not thou upon th^^ wine when it is red, when it givetii 
its color in the cup ; at the last it stn^geth like an 
adder, and biteth as a serpent ! Wo to them that riseth 
t>p early in tlie morning, that they may ioHow strong 
drink, for the drunkard shall not inherit the kingdom 
of God. 

How many crimes are youth liable to be ensnared 
with, which I have forborne to name. Th^at God 
hath solemnly said, " That those that do these things 
shall not inhei'it liis kingdom; that no whoremonger, 
nor unclean, covetous idolater, has an inheritance 
in the kingdom of God." Then be not deceived 
with vain words, for because of these things cometh 
the wrath of the Almighty upon a guilty world. O 
could all those that are now reaping their just reward,- 



THE HIDDEN MYSTERY. 171 

that have lived a life in wickedness and died without 
Christ return, what would the\ tell us ? " Come not to 
this place of torment/' methinks, would burst with 
horrid shrieks upon our ears. 

O ask yourself, dear reader, are these the w^ays of 
sin ; is this the path 1 took to be peace ; yea, it leads 
to hell, and t e abode of them that rejected the Sa- 
viour. Neglect religion no longer, but come to Christ 
and receive his holy anointing. You may look with 
contempt on some crimes, an^- say you are clear of all 
such, yet while you live a sti'a: ger to that blood that 
bouo;ht your pardon, you are exposed to death eternal. 

Few, at first setting out in a course of disobedience, 
are hardened in iniquity and sealed for perdition ; they 
advance from one sin to another and a still greater. 
Sin's destructive way is gradual. How many a thought- 
less youth imagined that he would fall a victim to sin. 
and that his crimes would lead to guilt and misery ? 

O how many thousands, thoughtless of their condi- 
tion, fancied they were clear of open crime ; that 
they were amiable and moral ; but were without Christ, 
and delayed their return to God ? The spirit has been 
striving, but still rejected. You cannot see so much 
harm in your innocent delights as you call them ; they 
will steal your precious soul, and leave it m the most bit- 
ter despair. U look to that bleeding Lamb that taketh 
away the sins oi the world. Think of the state of 
your soul before a death bed reveals its condition, and 
lays it open before }0ur astonished vision, and proves 
to you that the ways of sin lead to death. What will 
worldly pleasures then avail; v/hat comfort can they 
give upon a bed of death ? 

O how heart-rending is the thought of the misery 
that awaits those that reject the Saviour. How many 
testimonies could be brought forth, that in the dying 
hour of numbers that have rejected the Saviour, and 
refused salvation through him ? Listen to the calls of 
mercy w-hi'e in health, nor harden your heart, thai 
you may avoid sentence, "Depart, I know ye not." 



CHAPTER XVIl. 

THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OF GOD. 

It is just that God should not let sin go unpunished. 
"* Let no man say when he is tempted, 1 am tempted of 
God : for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither 
tempteth he any man.'' — James, 13. But every 
man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own 
lusts and enticed ; yet, " Blessed is the man that endur- 
eth temptation : for when he is tried, he shall receive 
the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to 
them that love him." — James, 12. Christ hath become 
our surety, and once suffered for sins, the just for the 
unjust, that the justice of God might be satisfied. Then 
we should shudder at the least appearance of evil, and 
the dreadful nature of sin, and be subject to that power 
which redeems to God, that power that overcomes the 
wicked principle in the heart, and casts it out, and fills 
the vessel with the holy treasure. The scriptures give 
us a faithful testimony concerning the justice of God, 
and the faithfulness of Christ, w^ho is the word of faith 
which the apostles preached. This living principle or 
word, is nigh thee, saycth the apostle, even in thy 
mouth and in thy heart. This is that principle of jus- 
tice that reconciles us to God, cutting dow^n and casting 
oflTthe unholy principles that rule in our natures, and 
give us power and strength against sin for the future; and 
that man whose heart is vile, and formed in wickedness, 
filled with corruption, and bringeth forth s'n and fruits 
unto death, shall, through obedience to the instructions 
of the spirit of truth, have this unholy nature purged 
out, and Christ formed within, and be enabled to bring 
forth fruit of righteousness by the power and spirit of 
the Redeemer to the glory of God the Father. Then let 



THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OF GOD, 173 

no man be discouraged though his sins may be as scar- 
let. Come to Christ ; you may be justified freely 
through his blood, and yet enjoy peace in the soul and 
acceptance with the Father. Then in the time of 
your struggle with your sinful nature to come to God, 
say not in your heart, who shall go up to heaven to 
bring Christ down, or who shall descend into the deep 
to bring him up, for he is graciously near, even in thy 
mouth and in thy heart. This is the blessed word of 
faith that you must believe in, and your heart be cir- 
cumcised with, that you may have the new life w^hich is 
received through the gospel of Christ, who is the word, 
the life, the justifier of them that believe, and redeems 
from sin, setting the soul free from the captivity of the 
enemy to serve and live for the Lord. The apostle 
taught this doctrine : '' That if thou shalt confess with 
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine 
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou 
shalt be saved.'' — Romans, x, 9. This was the mes- 
sage given by Moses, when he spake of the new cov- 
en.4nt, even another covenant than Mount Horab. This 
covenant was not of the Law, written in tables of 
stone but in the heart, wherein is the justifying, wash- 
ing, and purifying of the soul, fully known and felt ; 
for outward sacrifices under the law, were vain as to 
cleansing the soul ; neither doth a historical or out- 
ward belief of what Christ hath done and suffered, 
justify the soul now, nothing short of the new birth, 
the faith in Christ, and works of obedience : it did it 
in the past ages of the world, and it wiil justify now, 
and nau2:ht else can. 

" Wash ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your 
do'ngs from my eyes ; cease to do evil, learn to do 
w^ell.'' This cleansing or purifying is through the blood 
of the Lamb ; and, though your sins w^ere as scarlet, 
they shall be white as snow, though they were red like 
crimson, they shall be white like wool; for, He hath 
shown thee, O man, w^hat is good, and what the Lord 
doth require of thee. 



174 THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OF GOD. 

This holy spiiit that God gives to man, is as a dis- 
<-.erner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, teach- 
ing man when there is a good desire or an evil one, 
and how to resist the one and cherish the other ; deny- 
ing the natural will, and as the Holy One said, " Not 
my will, Father, but thine, be done/' That fleshy na- 
ture must be crucified, that vou may live to the spirit 
or will of God, which is as a lantern to your feet and 
a light to your path. 

O, dear reader, have you l^ecome acquainted with 
Christ, and stand justified before him ? for until you 
know him you cannot possess his spirit. If your de- 
sires are to glorify the Father, you must bow to his 
Son the Saviour, for unto him every knee must bow, 
and every tongue acknowledge salvation is of him ; 
for he is the light wherein God dwells, in all his ap- 
pearings and visitations to the children of m.en. This 
law is spirituid, and is able to convert the soul, making 
wise the simple unto salvation ; and in union with the 
spirit lies all our ability and strength, for w'e obtain 
not our knowledge of Christ by the letter but by the 
spirit of God. 

The Prophets, the Jews and the Gentiles, and all 
believers in the present generation, have all to tread 
the same path to life and salvation ; and God wmU be 
just in judiring all according to the nieasure of grace 
received. Those thathave perished in every age of the 
world, perished not for w-ant of the light that reproves 
for sin, but for withdrawing from the light. For the 
promises of God are great and precious, and are given 
to every believer, that he may partake of the divine 
nature, and wait in faith upon' the Lord, so all that 
desires not to be deceived, nor misapply their promises, 
must examine whether their condition is such that 
they can claim these proniises, io that the soul may 
witness and feel the gospel to be a glorious gospel of 
life, liberty, power, dominion, holiness, righteousness, 
and peace, revealing the everlasting mansions and 
dwelling-places of Christ Jesus and the habitation of 



TinXK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OF GOD. 175 

the just. O that you may offer up a pure and accepta- 
ble offering ; not that wiiich is lame and imperfect, 
which coultl not be accepted even in figure under the 
law, tor that which is impure will be cast out. Ye 
must learn that which is [)ure from God, and ye must 
come into it that ye may become priests unto God, 
weariniG^ the garment — the fine linen, the righteousness 
of 'hrist, and the robe of innocence — that you may 
appear before the Lord in his temple, in the beauty of 
holiness, not having on your own filthy rags; ior in 
our (;Vvn garment you can never be accepted, for God 
is just, and hath declared in these words: "No flesh shall 
be justified in his sight, but only in the righteousness, 
faith, obedience and holiness of Christ the Redeemer. '* 

How many take up principles of their own, or other 
men's understanding of the scriptures, and judge 
according; to an assumed knowledge, and live in an 
imagined righteousness and faith, and not in the 
righteousness of Christ. O liappy is that man that has 
laid aside his own imaginations about the things of 
God, and is taught by the spirit of truth, and is walking 
with God, and daily VvUtnessing redemprion through 
his son Jesus Christ. 

Dear reader, have vou a savincp faith in Christ ? If 
you have not, delay no longer, for your heart is hard- 
ening and you are further from God, and less hope of 
your conversion; for while you put off the time of 
your return to God, you daily grieve his blessed sp^'it, 
which might tempt him to leave you forever. Vv^hiie 
you delay, rem.ember you are in your sins and linger- 
ing upon the . brink of woe ! You may put off your 
soul's salvation, but you cannot escape the justice of 
God, for judgment is fast approaching and your des- 
truction slumbereth not Why will you put off those 
things that bebng to your peace? Then improve 
your time, for time may be more to you than ten thou- 
sand worlds ; I'or you cannot escape the jus' ice ol God, 
who is of purer eyes than to behold sin with allowance 
or let the guilty go unpunished. Let not satan have 



176 THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OF GOD. 

his ends by your deferring the work of your soul's peace! 
His stratagem is to persuade you to put it ofl', until 
death will put it off forever, liemeniber while you 
delay, you have no real comJort, no interest in God, no 
room for you in heaven, nor no hope of glory ; you 
have grieved the spirit, insulted heaven, and trampled 
upon the blood of Christ, and crjucified him afresh ; 
think not to escape his justice, for "Justice is mine,'' 
saith the Lord, •'Andlv\ill be avenged of my ene- 
my." God hath called you from day to day to seek 
him — to-day if you will hear his voice. Harden not 
yonr heart. 

O what an important change. Will you longer de- 
lay ; will you put off the time ; wdll you put off making 
God your friend ; will you neglect receiving Christ as 
your Saviour, and make your bed in hell ; will you 
refuse the company of angels and a crown of glory, 
and wail in black dispair your undone condition, with 
devils and damned ghosts, in the fire that never shall 
be quenched ? If you still resolve to delay, think of 
these truths ; think of your slighted Saviour and the 
justice of God ; remember you are living on his good- 
ness and mercy ; abusing his love and tempting him to 
cut you down as a cumberer of the ground. Although 
God sent his son into the world, and shed his blood to 
redeem you, yet you will put off the time for a few 
years more. O be persuaded to come to the Saviour 
and humble yourself at his feet, that you may find 
mercy. 

Happy the man that know^s he has passed from death 
unto life. He blesses the hour he resolved to come to 
Jesus ; he is often made to rejoice he fled to the Sa- 
viour for deliverance, and his reward is great, for he 
hath promised to give unto such eternal life. 

But, dear youth, you may pass the time that God 
hath given you to prepare for death, in vanity and 
folly ; you may be thoughtless of that awful hour : yet 
it is fast hastening on ; before the eternal judge you 
must appear; he is just, and will administer his right- 



THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OF GOD. 177 

ecus decision in justice, and reward you according to 
your deeds. Were this the night your souls were re- 
quired, how would you appear ? The world you loved, 
now has no charms ; your years are wasted, and spent 
in sin ; your day of grace is gone, and w^here can you 
flee for a hiding place from the frowns of God ? Your 
wicked friends that helped you to sin, cannot help you 
now, their arm- is too short, it has no power; your long 
forgotten sins rise fresh before you — all is guilt and 
condemnation ; darkness and misery attends every step ; 
you may justly dread the awful doom, for the justice 
of an offended God awaits you, and your hands are 
stained with crucifying the Saviour afresh ; your wick« 
ed associates could go with you to the gambling table, 
but they cannot go with you now; you must die 
with the ghost of him you loved and served at your 
side, and tossed upon the waves of black dispair^ 
where there is no mitigation of pain, nor hope of 
mercy ; for God in justice will punish the slighters of 
his grace with everlasting destruction ! The hour, the 
dreadful hour, will surely come; its moments fly swift 
away, and death will summon you to the throne of 
justice. You can have no loving Jesus' gentle whisper 
to win the soul away ; no brooding angle to spread his 
wing and bare the flittering and triumphant spirit, 
robed in white, to the embrace of the Redeemer ; but 
an awful state of inconceivable woe awaits you ; your 
day of mercy is gone. Your friends with aching 
hearts may weep over your grave as they commit 
your body to the damp, cold earth, while the soul is 
consigned to regions of woe, to await its still more 
awful fate, when soul and body must come to judgment, 
O sinner, ask yourself how shall you escape the 
justice of God, if you neglect so great salvation. Sin- 
ner look, O, look ! before you take another step ; you 
are now upon t^e very brink of hell. O shrink from 
the opening snare, and tremble w^ith dread at your 
narrow escape. O think of the threatnings of God, 

12 



178 THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OF GOD. 

when they shall be executed upon the soul that slights 
his mercy. In vain you may weep for misspent time ; 
in vain you may pray for another offer of salvation ; 
but this is impossible — mercy is forever shut from you. 
O think now before it is too late, and before your 
eternal state is forever sealed ; think now while mercy 
is offered, and a Saviour interceeding ; think of the glo- 
rious and happy state of the blessed, and make angels 
rejoice, and heaven resound, with anthems of praise, 
at your return to God ; but if you resolve to still put 
off your soul's peace, I urge you to think, and I pray 
God's spirit to deepen the thought. O think of the 
horror and gloom of outer darkness, where there is 
w^ailing and gnashing of teeth ; think of that wretched 
abode of fire that never shall be quenched. O think 
of the tormenting fiend, ready to drag the soul to the 
flaming prison. 

Reader, I tell you, and I pray God to impress this truth 
on your heart, that, if you live in sin, the awful hour 
of eternal judgment will overtake you. You may make 
light of my entreaties now, you may refuse to read or 
hear, but the awful reality will, erelong, burst upon 
your astonished vision, and you must meet the eternal 
Judge, prepared or unprepared. You cannot then 
linger and put off the time, for the Lord Jesus shall be 
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels m flam- 
ing fire taking vengeance on them thatknow not God, 
and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
who shall be punished with everlasting destruction 
from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of 
his power ; for God will deal justly with all, and rend- 
-er tp^ever man according ,to his deeds ; and unto them, 
that do not obey the truth,' but obey unrighteousness — 
indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon 
every soul of man that doeth evil. 

O vain youth, thou mayest walk in tie ways of thine 
own heart, and in the sight of thine own eyes ; but 
know thou, that for all these things, God will bring 
thee to judgment. Remember, if your name is not 






THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OF GOD. 179 

written in the Lamb's book of life, you will be cast 
into the lake of fire. Solemn thought ! do you be- 
lieve it ? You may refuse to believe, you may resolve 
to forget, but it will be in vain ; the blackening ele- 
ments, in p#als of thunder from the throne, will wake 
your slumbering conscience, and cause you to dread 
the awful realities of these truths, which will come 
as sure as there is a sun that rolls in the heavens in 
majestic honors from the east to the western horizon, 
and controls the vegetable kingdom by his refulgent 
rays — so sure you will be brought to judgment, and all 
your deeds to light and you be judged out of those things 
written in the book, not by man, but by the Judge of 
al! the earth, whose decree will be eternal and un= 
changable. Your broken sabbaths, your slighted op- 
portunities, your refused privileges, your offers of sal- 
vation, with all your aggrevating crimes, will there be 
laid open, together with the calls, the religious instruc- 
tion, the tears and entreaties of concerned friends, 
the warnings and exhortations given you to repent. 
O your many slighted mercies will then fush upon 
your mind, and add double remorse of conscience, if 
possible ; you can but exclaioi, " my wicked heart 
could not relent. O my obstinate impenitence has 
ruined my soul I have been seriously impressed, and 
felt the power and force of truth, but still went on in 
sin, still rejected the means of grace, and how shall I 
escape the judgment of an offended God ; for his 
judgments will be executed in justice ?" O think now, 
dear reader, before the dread hour overtakes you, and 
it is forever too late. 

But, do you plead you are moral, you do but little 
harm, your sports and frolics are innocent? This may 
all be : you may be moral and amiable, and respected 
of men, yet you have not the grace of God formed 
within ; your sins are unpardoned, you have ren- 
dered no service to God, for which you were cre- 
ated ; your sabbaths wasted in idleness or trifl, 
ing amusement, and your time spent in reading any.= 



180 THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OF GOD. 

thing but the Scriptures : thus, God and religion 
are neglected. O think not that these are small sins; 
for these God will bring you into judgnf>ent, and the 
Judge will execute judgment. O wnll you neglect 
your poor immortal soul! Must I strive in vain to im- 
press you with your danger, and your sifts rising to 
heaven to condemn you, and you still impenitent, still 
promising yourself peace, while destruction, with its 
awful horrors, is just ready to swallow you up ? You 
may turn aside from all my heartfelt entreaties and anx- 
ieties for your eternal peace ; but, for all these God 
w^ill bring you to judgment. Vain will then be all 
your excuses, and your refuges will be swept away, 
and your hiding places will be overthrown, and the 
aw^ful sentence, '' depart from me,'' wdll be pronounced 
against you, the horror of which will make you trem- 
ble, and your knees smite together. O to depart from 
Christ, in w^hom you have life, the only source of re- 
lief and comfort! Awful doom! to be driven accursed 
from his presence, and endure the WTath of God, who, 
out of Christ, is a consuming fire. G hear it, sinner ; 
let thy conscience be awakened from the reverbera- 
tion of its echo, '' depart ye cursed into everlasting 
fire,'' not prepared for man, but for the devil and his 
angels. 

O sinner stop, the spirit calls you to stop, and con- 
sider on your w^ays, ere this sentence is pronounced 
against you ; if you still refuse, ycu may, before it is 
long, call for mercy, and God refuse to hear your cry, 
and laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear 
cometh. God calls you now, by all that is sacred, to 
turn to Christ, and you refuse to hearken. His blessed 
word says, '-'Because I have called, and ye refused ; I 
have stretched out my hands, and no man regarded ; 
but ye have set at naught all my counsels, and would 
none of my reproofs ; I also will laugh at your calamity, 
and mock when your fear cometh. Then they shall 
call u )on me, but I will not answer; they shall seek 
me early, but they shall not find nae, they would none 



THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JUSTICE OP GOD. 181 

of my counsels ; they despised all my reproof, there- 
fore, they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be 
filled with their own devices/' What excuse will you 
render in that awful hour ? Can you plead ignorance ? 
Surely not : your conscience will smite you ; you 
cannot plead you are too young, for the tomb of 
your young acquaintance will be a witness against 
you. 

O be wise. ^\ve vour heart to your Redeemer, that 
he may robe you with his righteousness and make you 
an heir to the crown that fadeth not with using ; ages 
may roll on, and it brightens still in new glories. 

You may think I have already said enough, but how 
can I leave you, how can I cease pleading, when I 
remember, if you die unforgiven, you must be brought 
into judgment, and answer for all your sins, and stand 
trembling before the Lord, who will remember all 
your ingratitude and vv^ickedness, and the door of 
mercy forever be shut against you ; you may knock in 
vain, for it will not be opened : you may cry '' Lord 
open ;'' but the answer will be, " I never knew you, 
depart, you are an intruder, depart ye cursed !" 

O, reader, if you have not embraced religion, may 1 
hope you will speedily seek it without delay ; w^hat I 
desire of you, for all that I have written is your salva- 
tion — is your eternal happiness, that you may escape 
the snare of^satan, and J3e snatched as a brand from the 
burning. 

Alas ! shall I plead without success ? O Saviour be 
my witness ! Holy spirit rivit the truth upon the 
heart. O don't be unkind and cruel to your own 
soul, and rush with such heedless steps into eternal 
flames. Will not the terrors of God's law, as revealed 
in Scripture, w^arn you to flee from the wrath to come, 
and fear his judgments and denunciation against the 
wicked ; we are fearful that his spirit has fled and left 
you to hardness of heart. O God forbid ! Let me re- 
train from a subject so painful. O may his goodness 
and long forbearance lead you to repentence ; may the 



182 THINK NOT TO ESCAPE THE JtTSTICE OF GOD« 

love of Christ constrain you to repent and believe, 
that you may enjoy the happiness that Christ so dearly 
bought. Umless you come to the Saviour you cannot 
have the smiles of heaven nor enjoy the company of 
saints and angels, nor be permitted to behold their 
glory. For God will pour upon the rebellious the 
fierceness of his wrath. They may see afar off the 
crown of glory they have lost, and hear the rapturous 
melody that makes glad the redeemed, that join in the 
anthems of praise of glory to God and the Lamb, w^ho 
has redeemed us and wiped all tears from our eyes ; 
they shall never taste those joys, nor drink from the 
fountain of pleasure ; but in torment they must dwell 
to all eternity, tortured by madness and despair ; every 
delusive pleasure is fled ; their day is gone, and the 
darkness of eternal night surrounds them — they see» 
when too late, they might have had religion, but, alas ! 
no mercy now ; they may pray in vain, God calls no 
more ; the spirit's soft lovely whispers no more fall on 
the ear of the soul ; the precious blood of Christ is no 
longer offered, and God has forgotten to regard in mer- 
cy ; the warning of pious friends shall no longer harrass^ 
them ; the minister shall no longer urge nor weary 
them with the offers of Gospel grace, nor still insist 
on them to turn for there still is mercy — for their state 
is eternally fixed beyond the reach of mercy. 

Swearer, how often do you call on God to damn 
your soul ! If God was to grafUt your request, w^hich 
^ is repeatedly urged, how intolerable would be j'Our 
condition! Can you dwell with everlasting burnings ? 
Think then, before you swear another oath, of the 
horrid and doleful lamentations of the damned. Me- 
thinks, though you have often called on God to damn 
your soul, you would shrink from the mouth of that 
pit of woe, where the just indignation of an offended 
God will drive you. O think of the society in this 
doleful abode of fire, and you will swear no more; 
think of the spirits of the damned, the horrid crowd- 
ed fiends of hell ; where can they look but the frow^n 



A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE LORD. 183 

of God drives deeper and still deeper in the blackness 
of despair. Ages may roll on, and it is still the same ; 
millions of years, and eternity is no nearer at an end. 
Their torment is just begun ; nothing to give one mo- 
mentary pleasure, nor a gleam of hope to alleviate the 
gloom of eternal night : the worm that never dies 
continually preying on the sinking and desponding 
soul. 

Words cannot describe, nor imagination conceive 
what will be the remorse of the deluded soul that is 
led captive by the enemy. Then, dear reader, if 
you are a stranger to the covenant of grace, behold 
your danger, and flee to Christ — he is the only refuge 
for safety. Flee from destruction and turn from all 
that would cause you to neglect your souFs peace. 



CHAPTER XVIIL 

A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE' LORD. 

This is, undoubtedly, a blessed resolution, when 
made in the fear of the Lord, and will afford satisfac- 
tion to the believer, in every circumstance of life, 
which is a sufficient inducement to the children of 
men to em.brace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For 
faint, indeed, must be an historical account or repre- 
sentation of the realities of true and vital religion, 
which the soul is filled with — the love of Christ, and 
the prospects, buoyant with the joys of the heavenly 
world. 

Dear reader, have you resolved to serve the Lord ? 
Permit me to ask, what is your decision ; and choose 
je this day who you will serve. Will you choose life 
and walk in the path of peace, or be a slave to sin and 
walk in the road that leads to destruction ? " Know ye 
not to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey ; 



1*84 A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE LORD. 

his servants ye are, to whom ye obey, whether of sin 
unto death or of obedience unto righteousness !" 
"Let no man deceive you with vain words ; for, be- 
cause of these things cometh the wrath of God upon 
the children of disobedience ;" for, " he that commit- 
eth sin is of the devil, and those that indulge in evil 
habits or wonton pleasures, are in the path to ruin ;'' 
and, "if you harbor an unforgiving spirit against your 
brother, you have not the love of Christ in you ; if 
ye forgive not men their trespassess, neither will your 
Father forgive you your trespasses." " He that loveth 
not his brother, abideth in death;" ''if a man say he 
loves God, and hates his brother, he is a liar, and the 
truth is not in him." 

They who live, in what is termed honesty and 
morality, and have the esteem of men, but mani- 
fest no concern about their salvation, and take thought 
only for the things of the w^orld, are in the broad way 
that leads to.death. 

These that resolve to serve the Lord, as Joshua did : 
" Let others do as they will, as for me and my house, 
we will serve the Lord." These were brought to see 
the evil of sin, and have been led to repentence, and a 
belief in Christ. 

How many, dear youth, even Irom childhood have 
had an inward inclination for religion, and could not 
be satisfied with those things that perish. Their de- 
sires are turned to the Lord — the knowledge and true 
worship of God; and by thus waiting humbly on 
him, they have received the faith that was given to 
the saints, and that love w^hich is unfeigned, and a 
hope which purifieth the mind, and anchors it on the 
Rock Eternal. 

If the delight of the heart is in the Lord, and the 
light of the blessed spirit illuminating the mind, and 
God's power testifying the truth of the covenant, all 
the powers of darkness cannot prevail, because his 
faith is built upon the rock, which the gates of helJ 
cannot prevail against. 



A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE LORD. 185 

O may all that would come to a certainty in religion, 
mind the witness of God in their own hearts, and seek 
to know the true birth which is from God ; crucifying 
the natural will, bringing all in conformity to the will 
of God : for he that would be wise in the things of 
God, must become a fool in the eyes of the world. 
Religion is a principle that changeth the mind. The 
spirit eniighteneth and witnesseth concerning heavenly 
things ; not from an outward revelation, but from an 
inward communion, hearing the voice of the Invisible, 
and receiving A^rtue and power from him, which is 
comfort and refreshment to us that believe. 

Brethren, if you have made your peace with God, 
and are walking in the path of life, manifest your faith 
in Christ by a life of holiness ; by resisting sin and 
watching unto prayer, for faith, destitute of obedience 
or works, is useless. Circumcision availeth nothing, 
nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by love 
and purifies the heart : for " without holiness no man 
shall see the Lord." " Hereby you are made free from 
sin, and become servants to God ; and have your fruit 
unto holiness and the end everlasting life.'' ''Hereby 
are God's children known ; for whosoever doeth not 
those things whatsoever are written and commanded 
of God, is not of him: neither he that loveth not his 
brother; then take heed, watch and pray, fori say 
unto all watch : for if ye live after the flesh ye shal 
die; but if ye through the spirit, do mortify the deeds 
of the body, ye shall live/' Dear reader, fly to Christ 
for refuge ; humble yourself before God for your trans- 
gressions, and believe on Jesus for salvation. Life 
and death are before you ; choose ye w^hom you v/ill 
serve ; whether you will be a child of God, or a ser- 
vant of satan. It is a decision you must make at once 
and for eternity; it is happines or misery forever 1 
If you wish to enter the paradise of God ; make rehg- 
ion your choice, and without delay ; if you wish to 
weare a crown of glory, and enter heaven, give your 
heart to Jesus, and seek the Lord as your Redeemer. 



186 A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE LORD. 

O shall Jesus weep in vain ; shall the spirit strive in 
vain ; shall the minister labor in vain ? O Lord forbid 
it. But a span between you and death ! O think of 
your dying hour^ — of the moment when hope is gone — 
of your last farewell — your declming pulse — your f?'- 
tering voice, and your eyes forever closed to all thi-igs 
here below — of your immortal soul taking flight to the 
eternal world, without one ray of hope! O make 
Christ your only choice ! 

O think of the value of time, and resolve to serve 
the Lord ; think of the goodness of God towards you : 
he has given you life, health, and crowned your days 
with comforts ; think of his long forbearance, v^hen he 
might have justly spurned you from his presence, and 
sent you to hell ! O think of his pitty and patience in 
bearing with ycmr willful disobedience ; think of his 
love, in the gift of his son to die for your transgressions, 
and the offer of life and salvation through his blood ; 
think of the suffering Saviour — =his deep humiliation 
knd poverty — his humble birth and life of sorrow ! O 
think of that thorny crown ; that heart-rending agony 
for wretched sinners ; think of his bitter cross and 
dying groans, to save a ruined w^orld from the awful 
pangs of eternal death. 

O resolve to serve the Lord, that you may claim 
his love and be received into eternal joys : have pity 
on that soul that must live through eternity — that soul 
that Christ loves and pities, that soul he offers his blood 
to wash and make white, and wrap in the mantle of 
his own righteousness. You love that clay tenement ? 
then love that soul, and rescue it from the damnation 
of hell. If you love pleasure and happiness, choose 
that happiness which is eternal. Well might you sigh 
if God had irrevocably decreed your eternal destruc- 
tion ; but he stretches out his arms of mercy, and of^ 
fers you life and salvation, and you stillrefuse, and ex- 
pose yourself to the decree of that death that never 
dies. 

O choose the Lord, and escape the fire that never 



A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE LORD. 187 

shall be quenched, and the worm that never dies. O' 
an interest in the Redeemer will save you from the 
wrath to come. He is the only safe hiding place. 
Choose him now. Now is the time and the day oi 
salvation, you may never have a better opportunity, 
you may never be invited again. O think of the mo- 
ment when you must give an account to God for your 
privileges — for the invitations you have had to seek 
the Lord. Think of them that have died in the faith. 
Stand before him adorned with the righteousness of 
Christ, and crowned with the glory and raptures of 
heavenly light. Slight no longer, 1 pray you, your 
blessed Lord, but come and walk in the way that 
leads to glory and to God. 

Dear reader, may I hope you will give your heart to 
God? Yea, I v/ill indulge the hope, dear sister, if it 
is you who are pondering over my scattered medita- 
tions — that you, yes, you, will choose the way of life. 
And O, may the blessing of heaven, and the comforts- 
of religion Hght up your pathway. O could 1 be an 
instrument in the hand of God to persuade you to 
choose the Lord, 1 would bless God who opened your 
heart and inclined your mind to serve the Lord, and 
fixed your joys w^here sorrow never comes — where 
years and ages roll on in raptures of eternal joy. O' 
blessed scene of rapturous delight ! 

O give your heart to Christ, that you may be happy 
in the Lord. Your choice to-day is' an important one. 
It may secure your eternal peace, and make you an 
heir of heaven, and bring you with songs of joy and 
everlasting praises, to the Redeemer. You may be 
concerned about your soul's peace, and feel its import- 
ance ; but desire to be excused, because you are young 
and may have many days yet on earth; yet you in- 
tend to seek reli:.>ion and serve the Lord by-and-by ! 
Trifle not with your soul, you are not too young to 
die, nor to appear at the judgment seat of Christ. 
Now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salva- 
tion. 



188 A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE LORD. 

Neglect not the salvation of your sox^l. O if you 
-could gain the whole world, what would it profit you? 
Christ hath feelingly asked : what would a man give 
in exchange for his soul, when he comes to die, and 
see his state as it really is before God ? If he possess 
thrones and kingdoms he would sacrifice them all. 
The Apostle Paul counted all things lost, that he might 
win Christ. "0 does he repent serving the Lord ? Nay 
verily. Then secure your eternal peace, and then you 
may pursue the concerns of life with comfort — be hap- 
py in adversity or prosperity. Seek first the kingdom 
of God and his righteousness and all other things will 
be added to you. 

O think not that the zealous christian makes too 
much ado about religion. Could you ask the saints 
in glory were they too zealous, did they strive too 
much to overcome the enemy for their reward — could 
you see to where your course will lead you—see the 
gulf of v/oe to which you are hastening, you would 
shrink from the awful scene, nor think no effort that 
could be made too much to effect your deliverance ; 
could you realize the joys of the blessed, J^ou'd think 
no time too dear to sacrifice to attain it. O think me 
not an enthusiast, nor over zealous, for life or death is 
before us, and we cannot do too much to attain to life 
and escape death. Ask yourself — you that neglect 
God — what your course will lead you to ; is it the way 
to heaven ? Nay, verily ; its end will be bitter re- 
morse to all eternity. What are those fleeting plea- 
sures compared to a knowledge of divine favor, and 
the enjoyment of His love ? What but this can bring 
solid peace — what but the service of the Lord can 
bring that assurance of faith ? What can make you 
as angels but holy obedience ? 

O believe not a vain world that w^ould lead vou from 
God, and destroy your soul. You, perhaps, have long 
worked at crime, and have indulged in all the evil pro- 
pensities of your nature ; and, perhaps, the fatal influ- 
ence of a bad example, has ever been before your 



A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE LORD. 189 

eyes. Yet, notwithstanding all this, you must give an 
account to God for all your deeds, though you may 
have been taught even to sin, and profane your Ma- 
ker's name, by those who should have instructed you 
in the ways of God, and given you lessons in holy 
things; yet God is willing to receive you and number 
you wath the blessed. God is merciful and just. If 
you will give your heart to him, he will receive you 
to his bosom, nor turn you away without a blessing. 
Though your friends are irreligious, all those blessings 
promised to the christian you, shall realize by coming 
to Christ. 

O do not travel in the road to hell, because your rel- 
atives are in the broad way to destruction. Contem- 
plate the blessings that religion affords — that God has 
designed you should enjoy — that you on a dying bed 
may have peace, and not have to weep over you folly 
when it is too late. If you cannot persuade your 
friend^ to go to heaven with you, go w^ithout them, 
follow them no longer in the way to death, but seek 
your own soul's salvation. Though many have been 
trained up in iniquity, and taught to sin, when they 
have come to the years of maturity, they have won 
lasting honors to themselves, by forsaking sin and serv- 
ing the Lord. Thus, distinguished piety sheds forth a 
rav of lio-ht to a sinful world, w^hich hath otow^u bright- 
er and brighter unto the perfect day. 

Reader, art thou a parent ? Your regard for your 
children s worldly interests is great, you desire to see 
them prosper in the world : remember, religion is of 
far greater importance. Your affection for them 
should urge you to improve every means to bring them 
to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. 
O will you trifle with the souls of your children, and 
train up your dear offspring for devouring flames? 
O how heart-rending it would be to see them devoured 
by beasts of prey ! O may your feelings be waked up. 
Behold you are leading them with heedless steps tOs 
that awful pit of lions, that seeketh whom they may 
devour. O what ho^-rifying reflections, to think of 



190 A RESOLUTION BY GR--CE TO SEBVE THE LORD. 

being the destroyer of our own children, and sink our 
own souls in that pit of woe ! Then, if you love your 
children, show it by teaching them to seek the Lord, 
If you have not religion, and love your own soul, show 
it by speedily turning to God, before the door of mercy 
is shut against you forever. But if yoi;i are a chris- 
tian, and are with your house serving the Lord, happy 
are you, for you feast on those spiritual blessings, that 
tougue cannot describe. 

The christian is made to exult in rapturous joy, and 
exclaim with the Queen of the South, " The half has 
liever been told,'' nor can be, until we tell it over in 
the blissful scenes of the Paradise of God. .0 what 
gratitude should be imprinted in our hearts, for our 
peculiar privileges, that we are made partakers of the 
grace of God, while thousands are rushing in wanton 
folly to perdition. Many of theai have had opportu- 
nities equal or superior to yours. The same bless- 
ed spirit wooed them, but they refused : '"• Go thy way 
for this time, at a more convenient season I will call 
for thee/' That season, alas, never came ; and they 
still float down the torrent of time to endless perdi^ 
tion. 

Christian brethern, watch unto prayer, that your 
minds may be clothed with the humility that so .much 
adorns the child of God. We cannot enjoy religion 
without cherishing a spirit of prayer. The Saviour 
says, "Pray without ceasing." Let the humble breath.- 
ings of the heart be continually rising like holy incense 
to heaven's ear, m.aking known all your w^ants to Him 
who giveth liberty and upbraideth not : ask. -and it 
shall be given ; seek and you shall ,find, knock and it 
shall be opened unto you ; for every one that seeketh 
findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 
Keep that holy communion oi spirit up. Let nothing 
intervene between your soul and God. 

Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he 
fall. Remember you are a child of wrath, plucked as 
a bran from the burning, and come far short of your 



A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE DORD. 191 

pattern. Take courage from God's promises, and may 
his precepts gide you in life, and succor you from 
everything that y/ould lead you from Jesus. Bear in 
mind the Saviour's words, " Without me ye can do 
nothing.'' Then come to him, for grace to help in 
every time of need ; for verily, you are not your own. 
Jesus is the rightful owner. He has bought you with 
his own life and blood. Then do all in your power 
for the glory of God 

Although your station in hfe be humble, your educa^ 
tion limited, yet, by a pious and holy walk with God 
you may do much by example ; your light may shine^ 
and bring glory to God ; and as you grow up in Christ, 
your living head, you may be instrumental in winning 
souls to God. Read the scriptures with prayer, that 
you may have clear and distinct views of the thruths 
of the Gospel. 

Live aloof from the things that perish with their us- 
ing. Be your chief desire in all you do to glorify God. 
Remember, we are but pilgrims here, bound to that 
land from whence no traveller returns. 

Dear young convert be en your guard, you are ex- 
posed to many snares and temptations. Whilst those 
of more experien ^.e watch over you in love, and de- 
sire your firmness in religion, be diligent and you will 
triumph. The irreligious and vain often prove fatal to 
the young convert. Watch against their snares lest 
they ent ingle you ; and v/hen tempted, turn from them 
as you would from a venemous serpent. Keep thy 
spirit alive by the cheering promises of Gospel truth, 
and ask thyself : Unto v/hom would we p;o but to 
Jesus : thou alone hast tiie words of eternal fife. 

Reader, if you have not experienced those comforts, 
approach the Saviour in confidence, for through him 
you have acceptance to the mercy of God. 

Pleasures purchased by the Saviour's blood av/ait 
vou. The righteous shall reign in the kingdom of 
glory, and drink of those pleasures w^ith fulness of joy. 
Anthems of praise shall resound through the mansions 



192 A RESOLUTION BY GRACE TO SERVE THE LORD. 

of bliss, when the redeemed shall meet before the Lord. 

Sister, art thou bowed down in spirit ? Here is rest 
prepared for your weary soul. Take courage. His 
grace is able to bear you up — He soon will call you 
from this world of sorrow to reap your great reward. 

Who on earth can be more happy than those that 
serve the Lord, and have this humble confidence that 
their names are written in the Lamb's book of life ? 
They can look at death and dread not its sting ; for the 
sting of deaih is sin, and through Christ they have 
gained the victory. They can look down into the 
cold damp grave, and say : There I lay this body down 
to rest from worldly care, until ths resurrection morn, 
when the mortal shall put on immortality, and rise tri- 
umphant over death and the grave, clothed in robes of 
white, and adorned with brighter crowns of glory ; 
while in- rapturous joy they see Jesus, their loving 
Redeemer, waiting to welcome them home, to receive 
the reward that has been in reserve for them that 
serve the Lord Reader, art thou unconverted, can 
you contemplate this awful period without awe ; when. 
Gabriel's trump shall sound, and the world shall be on 
fire ; when Jesus shall come in the clouds of heaven, 
with the holy angels, and take vengeance on them that 
know not God! 

may the spirit of the living God awaken you from 
your sleep of death, and dreams of earthly happiness — 
to whose hands I must commit you. 



END. 






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